Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center Asks Sick Visitors to Stay Home

 WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. –Potential visitors to WakeForestUniversityBaptistMedicalCenter who are sick should stay home to help protect patients and staff and prevent the potential spread of swine influenza, warns an infectious disease specialist.

“We will have signs up at entry points around the medical center asking visitors who display signs of flu illness to return home and contact their doctor,” said Chris Ohl, M.D., co-leaders of the influenza emergency response team at Wake Forest Baptist. “We do this every year during the regular flu season as well.”

Visitors to in-patient units must check in at the nursing stations to answer questions about their health before being allowed into patient rooms, he added.

“We’re just asking every one to be considerate and not take a chance of bringing flu into the hospital,” Ohl said.

There are no reported cases of swine flu in ForsythCounty at this time, and only two probable cases in the state. Symptoms of swine flu include fever, runny nose or nasal congestion, sore throat and cough.  Ohl recommends the following:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you get sick with influenza, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

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