NH hospitals limiting visitors due to flu risk

BC-NH — Hospitals-Flu,0129

NH hospitals limiting visitors due to flu risk

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PORTSMOUTH, N.H. (AP) — New Hampshire hospitals are imposing new restrictions on younger visitors’ access to their patients due to the risk of exposing them to the H1N1 flu.

Starting Monday, Portsmouth Regional will join Exeter and Concord hospitals in implementing new rules limiting who is allowed to visit patients. Portsmouth Regional won’t allow children under 12 into the hospital. The same restriction was imposed at Exeter Hospital last week.

Concord Hospital is not allowing anyone under 18 is allowed into the maternity ward.

Representatives of Exeter and Portsmouth hospitals told WMUR that exceptions can be made if a child appears healthy.

Elliot Hospital in Manchester is asking visitors entering certain wards to stay away if they have flu-like symptoms.

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Information from: WMUR-TV, http://wmur.com