Flu forces Fayetteville-area hospitals to restrict children

FAYETTEVILLE, NC (WTVD) -- Cape Fear Valley Health says children under the age of 12 won't be allowed as visitors at its facilities after March 1 because of an increase in reported flu cases.

The ban includes Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital, Cape Fear Valley Rehabilitation Center, Behavioral Health Care, Hoke Hospital and Bladen County Hospital, as well as Harnett Health's two hospitals: Betsy Johnson Hospital and Central Harnett Hospital.

Cape Fear Valley Health said it is trying to stop the spread of the illness to patients.

People experiencing flu-like symptoms, such as fever, cough, sore throat and runny nose, are urged not to visit friends and family at the hospitals. Instead, they should stay home and call their primary care physician for treatment guidance.

Cape Fear Valley Health said it will revisit the visitation policy when flu numbers go back down.