The swine flu has been a major concern for much of the year and now that flu season is setting in, many people will begin flooding hospitals over perceived infection.

In response to this widespread concern, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that hospitals put guidelines in place that will reduce the chances of spreading the H1N1 virus to other patients, visitors and staff members.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital, 500 Remington Blvd. in Bolingbrook, and Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital, 5101 S. Willow Springs Road in La Grange, are restricting visitors over concerns about spreading the H1N1 virus.

Some area hospitals are deciding to follow this same advice.

According to a news release on its Web site, OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, 5666 E. State St. in Rockford, Rockford Health System, 2350 N. Rockton Ave. in Rockford, and Swedish-American Health System, 1401 E. State St. in Rockford, are restricting the age of visitors to their facilities.

Visitors must be older than 12 years, and it is strongly recommended that anyone showing flu-like symptoms not visit patients in the hospital.

Not all hospitals feel that it is necessary to install such measures at this time.

“Right now, we have not issued any such measures at this point,” said Sharon Emanuelson, marketing and public relations director at Kishwaukee Community Hospital, 1 Kish Hospital Drive.

At this time, there are no government mandates that require any hospitals to follow the CDC recommendations; instead, it is up to individual health care systems to follow or not follow these guidelines.

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