February 7, 2018
NORTON, Kan. – Due to an increase in influenza cases seen in Norton County, Norton County Hospital is asking visitors to please limit contact to the hospital at this time until further notice. If you must visit a patient, please wear a mask during your visit, and children 12 years and younger are being asked to not visit at this time.
Our goal is to keep our patients and visitors free from flu and its complications throughout the hospital, clinic and community. Patients who present to the clinic or emergency department with respiratory symptoms such as a fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, tiredness or chills are asked to put on a mask as soon as they enter the building and keep the mask on until they leave, unless instructed otherwise by their provider or nurse. Masks are located at each hospital and clinic entrance.
“Influenza is a virus that is highly contagious,” said Jamey Keen, RN, Quality, Infection Prevention and Employee Health director at Norton County Hospital. “To best protect our community, it is vital to take necessary precautions to prevent further outbreak.”
Some things that you can do to prevent the spread of flu include:
Schools can assist in reducing the outbreak of influenza by:
Supporting the decision for staff and students to stay home if they are ill, especially until they are fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication such as Tylenol or ibuprofen.
Instruct students to properly wash hands frequently.
Instruct students to cover their cough.
Instruct students to avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are spread this way.
Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects in high-touch areas that may be contaminated with germs.
It is not too late to get the flu vaccine. Please visit the Norton County Health Department or your health care provider for more information and to receive the vaccine.
For questions about the flu, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/flu
The latest Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report can be found online through the CDC as well: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm
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