IU Health facilities, including those in LaPorte, are restricting visits to patients because of a high number of flu cases.
“Indiana is experiencing an early and severe flu season. According to the Indiana State Department of Health, influenza activity is continuing to increase in the United States. The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) was 3% above the national baseline,” according to an IU Health press release. “It is for this reason that IU Health will be implementing precautionary measures of visitor restrictions until further notice to protect patients, families and team members from unnecessary potential exposure to the flu virus. These precautionary measures will be in effect at all IU Health facilities, including IU Health LaPorte and Starke hospitals, Lakeshore Surgical Center, and all rehabilitation facilities.”
Effective immediately, “only healthy adults (ages 18 and older) may visit patients, including parents, spouses/significant others and spiritual counselors. Exceptions can be made in special circumstances. A ‘healthy’ adult is one who is not experiencing any flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache, tiredness, body aches, diarrhea or vomiting; and someone who has not been exposed to the flu virus in the past week.”
IU Health advises all to wash your hands and use hand sanitizer often.