NEW: UMass Memorial Bans Young Visitors to Combat Flu

Email to a friend Permalink

Wednesday, January 09, 2013

GolocalWorcester News Team

Worcester's UMass Memorial hospital is taking extra precautions to prevent cases of the flu, including banning children 14 and under from visiting the hospital.

Media and Public Relations Manager, Rob Brogna, said "Like many other hospitals we are putting more restrictions on visitors, one restriction being on children 14 and under from coming as visitors -- not as patients."

Brogna said that this measure is in place to prevent further spreading of the flu during what is already a heightened year of cases. He added that the hospital has put other measures in place as well.

"When kids are in school, there's a lot of stuff going around," he said. Due to their age, children's immune systems are more at risk to winter colds, which can escalate quickly.

This news comes just as Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino declared a flu emergency in Boston.