MONROE - Monroe Clinic is tightening down on visits to hospital patients and taking other precautionary steps to protect its patients, its staff and the community from the flu virus that has arrived early in the U.S.
"We have experienced some high census day," said Paula Elmer, Monroe Clinic's vice president of clinical operations and chief nursing office, "but our physicians and staff have worked together to accommodate patients' needs. We have been busier over the last year, and that is what prompted the build out of the eight shelled rooms on the inpatient unit, which is in progress."
As in most parts of the country, Wisconsin is having widespread influenza activity and having it earlier than in past years, according to Green County Health Director RoAnn Warden.
The Green County Health Department has received 10 reports of hospitalized people so far this influenza season.
"This number is significantly up from last year," Warden reported late Thursday. "(During) last year's influenza season, we received one report of a hospitalized person with influenza."
"We are seeing predominately the influenza A virus circulating, and it is hitting our older population the hardest," she added. "The age range for those hospitalized this year has been 49 years to 86 years old."
Green County Health Department has received one report of a long-term care facility with an active influenza outbreak, Warden also reported.
Reports of the illness are nearing what have been peak levels during moderately severe seasons, according to a Center for Disease Control. A total of 47 states reported widespread geographic influenza activity for the week between Dec. 30 and Jan. 5, an increase from 41 states last week.
The CDC reported Friday that 24 states and New York City have high levels of influenza-like-illness, and another 16 states were reporting moderate levels. Wisconsin was rated at a moderate level, surrounded by high-level neighboring states.
The Associated Press reported Thursday that emergency rooms at many Milwaukee area hospitals are being inundated with older patients who have severe flu-like symptoms and diverting incoming ambulances to other hospitals. Other cities around Wisconsin had not reported hospitals having a similar problem.
Officials at the CDC Epidemiology and Prevention Branch of the Influenza Division recommended last week anyone who has not been vaccinated should do so now.
"CDC has indicated that they are seeing a good match between the predominate viruses that are circulating and the make-up of this year's influenza vaccine," Warden said.
About 99 percent of the influenza A viruses and 67 percent of the influenza B viruses analyzed at CDC so far this season are like the viruses included in the 2012-2013 influenza vaccine.
According to the AP, the government estimates that between a third and a half of Americans have gotten the vaccine. Early indications are that about 60 percent of all vaccinated people have been protected from the flu.
But the vaccine isn't foolproof, and even those who were vaccinated can still get sick. Twenty influenza-associated pediatric deaths have been reported to CDC for 2012-2013 season, as of Friday.
Warden and Monroe Clinic and Monroe School District are asking people to use good hygiene practices to prevent spreading the virus, and to call primary care providers for more information on flu vaccinations.
"We have experienced some high census day," said Paula Elmer, Monroe Clinic's vice president of clinical operations and chief nursing office, "but our physicians and staff have worked together to accommodate patients' needs. We have been busier over the last year, and that is what prompted the build out of the eight shelled rooms on the inpatient unit, which is in progress."
As in most parts of the country, Wisconsin is having widespread influenza activity and having it earlier than in past years, according to Green County Health Director RoAnn Warden.
The Green County Health Department has received 10 reports of hospitalized people so far this influenza season.
"This number is significantly up from last year," Warden reported late Thursday. "(During) last year's influenza season, we received one report of a hospitalized person with influenza."
"We are seeing predominately the influenza A virus circulating, and it is hitting our older population the hardest," she added. "The age range for those hospitalized this year has been 49 years to 86 years old."
Green County Health Department has received one report of a long-term care facility with an active influenza outbreak, Warden also reported.
Reports of the illness are nearing what have been peak levels during moderately severe seasons, according to a Center for Disease Control. A total of 47 states reported widespread geographic influenza activity for the week between Dec. 30 and Jan. 5, an increase from 41 states last week.
The CDC reported Friday that 24 states and New York City have high levels of influenza-like-illness, and another 16 states were reporting moderate levels. Wisconsin was rated at a moderate level, surrounded by high-level neighboring states.
The Associated Press reported Thursday that emergency rooms at many Milwaukee area hospitals are being inundated with older patients who have severe flu-like symptoms and diverting incoming ambulances to other hospitals. Other cities around Wisconsin had not reported hospitals having a similar problem.
Officials at the CDC Epidemiology and Prevention Branch of the Influenza Division recommended last week anyone who has not been vaccinated should do so now.
"CDC has indicated that they are seeing a good match between the predominate viruses that are circulating and the make-up of this year's influenza vaccine," Warden said.
About 99 percent of the influenza A viruses and 67 percent of the influenza B viruses analyzed at CDC so far this season are like the viruses included in the 2012-2013 influenza vaccine.
According to the AP, the government estimates that between a third and a half of Americans have gotten the vaccine. Early indications are that about 60 percent of all vaccinated people have been protected from the flu.
But the vaccine isn't foolproof, and even those who were vaccinated can still get sick. Twenty influenza-associated pediatric deaths have been reported to CDC for 2012-2013 season, as of Friday.
Warden and Monroe Clinic and Monroe School District are asking people to use good hygiene practices to prevent spreading the virus, and to call primary care providers for more information on flu vaccinations.