news-record.com

WINSTON-SALEM — Two local hospitals and two more in Davidson County are the latest to restrict young visitors because of swine flu concerns.

Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Forsyth Medical Center and Thomasville Medical Center will ban visitors younger than 18 starting Thursday. The ban at Forsyth Medical Center also includes Medical Park Hospital.

Restrictions at Lexington Memorial Hospital will go into effect Oct. 5.

The ban means that young siblings, friends and family members of patients cannot be in hospital lobbies, waiting areas, classrooms and patient rooms. Also, visitation to neonatal intensive care units is limited to parents and primary caregivers. None of the hospitals said how long the restrictions will remain in place.

The policies do not apply to children who need emergency care or hospitalization.

Moses Cone Hospital in Greensboro, Morehead Memorial Hospital in Eden and Annie Penn Hospital in Reidsville announced similar policies last week because of concerns that children are more susceptible than adults to the H1N1 virus.

Of the H1N1 flu cases reported in North Carolina, the majority has been in children and young adults. Also, children are often contagious before they show signs of an illness.

Adults with mild flu-like illnesses -- including cough, sore throat, and head and body aches -- and a fever within the past 24 hours also are asked to stay away from local hospitals.