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Four Utah deaths linked to H1N1 flu
Health care ? Hospitals are limiting visitors to fight both flu strains.
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 10/15/2009 06:04:55 PM MDT
Click photo to enlarge
Maj. Bernadette Brockman of Millcreek, left, stands in... (Leah Hogsten / The Salt Lake Tribune)
A Roosevelt man in his 30s died from the H1N1 flu virus last weekend, the fourth death tied to the swine flu in Utah this flu season.
Jeramie Tubbs, a spokeswoman for the Tri County Health Department, didn't know if the man had any underlying medical conditions that put him at higher risk for complications.
As the number of H1N1 flu-related illnesses and deaths climb, Utah hospitals are limiting visitors in an effort to halt its spread.
Acting on a recommendation from the Utah Hospitals & Health Systems Association, University Hospital in Salt Lake City, as well as Intermountain Healthcare, IASIS Healthcare and MountainStar hospitals, have banned visitors under age 14. They have also limited other visitors to two at a time -- whether in a patient's room or accompanying a patient to an emergency room.
The limits don't apply to patients who are receiving end-of-life care. But all visitors must stay home if they are ill, including those with a fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
Visitors also are asked to wash their hands frequently.
"Overall, people are taking it in stride," said Jess Gomez, a spokesman for Intermountain Healthcare. "It's an inconvenience for some, but once they better understand the reasons for the restrictions -- which is to protect their loved ones in the hospital and the people who are caring for them -- they are fine."
Print Email Font Resize
Four Utah deaths linked to H1N1 flu
Health care ? Hospitals are limiting visitors to fight both flu strains.
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 10/15/2009 06:04:55 PM MDT
Click photo to enlarge
Maj. Bernadette Brockman of Millcreek, left, stands in... (Leah Hogsten / The Salt Lake Tribune)
A Roosevelt man in his 30s died from the H1N1 flu virus last weekend, the fourth death tied to the swine flu in Utah this flu season.
Jeramie Tubbs, a spokeswoman for the Tri County Health Department, didn't know if the man had any underlying medical conditions that put him at higher risk for complications.
As the number of H1N1 flu-related illnesses and deaths climb, Utah hospitals are limiting visitors in an effort to halt its spread.
Acting on a recommendation from the Utah Hospitals & Health Systems Association, University Hospital in Salt Lake City, as well as Intermountain Healthcare, IASIS Healthcare and MountainStar hospitals, have banned visitors under age 14. They have also limited other visitors to two at a time -- whether in a patient's room or accompanying a patient to an emergency room.
The limits don't apply to patients who are receiving end-of-life care. But all visitors must stay home if they are ill, including those with a fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
Visitors also are asked to wash their hands frequently.
"Overall, people are taking it in stride," said Jess Gomez, a spokesman for Intermountain Healthcare. "It's an inconvenience for some, but once they better understand the reasons for the restrictions -- which is to protect their loved ones in the hospital and the people who are caring for them -- they are fine."