/

Hospital announces temporary visitor restriction due to flu reports

2 mins read
Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington.
Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington is temporarily restricting some visitors from its maternity an pediatric unit.

FARMINGTON – As a safety precaution for its youngest patients, Franklin Memorial Hospital is temporarily restricting some visitors from its maternity and pediatric floor due to widespread reports of influenza cases.

On Tuesday, the hospital issued a press release that children under the age of 12 will not be allowed on the Maternal and Child Health Unit this flu season, unless they are healthy siblings. All other visitors must also be feeling well and should wash their hands before and after entering the unit.

“We need to protect our vulnerable patients,” said MaryAnne Goodwin, unit manager. “Because newborns cannot be vaccinated for flu, they should not have any unnecessary exposure to people with respiratory or other contagious illnesses.”

In a recent update, the Maine Centers for Disease Control reports that the flu is now widespread. In Maine, all 16 counties have reported influenza-like-illnesses. So far, confirmed cases vary from 15 in Washington County to 200 in Penobscot County. Franklin County reported most recently 25 cases have been confirmed.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the length of a flu season can vary. For the past 13 seasons, reports of influenza-like-illness has remained at or above the national baseline for between one and 19 weeks each season, with an average of 13 weeks.

Goodwin said the call to temporarily restrict some visitors is not unusual. The same message went out two years ago, and depends on the perceived threat that each flu season presents.

“It’s a precaution. During flu season we need to look out for the safety of our patients,” she said.

The CDC noted that it is especially important this year for everyone over the age of six months to get vaccinated as this year’s strain is a particularly aggressive strain. The vast majority of circulating influenza in Maine and nationwide is influenza A/H3. Influenza A/H3 seasons tend to be more severe and to affect mature adults and children.

For additional information, contact the MCH unit at 779-2295.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

4 Comments

  1. I think it should be like that all the time. The way it used to be. There is always that one family member that will come with their sick child and stay for the day.

  2. “There is always that one family member that will come with their sick child and stay for the day”

    It’s not just sick kids – I have seen adults show up as well that are sick! And I agree, it should be year round not just because of the “flu season”. I get they need to protect their vulnerable patients but anyone inpatient needs to be protected.

  3. I’ve never understood why pediatrics is in the same department as maternity with the same medical personnel going back and forth between the two.

  4. Lisa,
    When my daughter was on the peds side and was very sick with the flu they called in a nurse specifically for my child so they were not going back and forth between mom/newborns and pediatric patients. I think they are very careful with this and they gown up as well.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.