Steady growth in flu cases in the state

Flu activity continues to be widespread in Massachusetts, public health officials said today in a weekly report drawn from the number of people visiting their doctors with fever, cough, and sore throats.

Patients are not routinely tested to see if they have swine flu, or H1N1, but because there are so many more cases than usual this early in the winter flu season, most illnesses are assumed to be caused by the H1N1 virus. About 5 percent of visits to doctors represent flu-like illnesses, the state said, well above peak levels in previous years.

A growing number of flu cases among patients has prompted Massachusetts General Hospital to change its policy for visitors. Last week the hospital barred children and teenagers from its obstetrics unit because children are both more likely to catch and transmit the flu.

As of Monday, children 18 and under are asked not to come to any part of the hospital unless they are patients, associate chief nurse Debra Burke said today. She also urged people with flu symptoms and anyone who has been around someone sick with the flu to stay away, again unless they are patients.

"Before you have symptoms of flu, you could have the flu and be shedding the virus for up to two days," she said. "We're just asking people to be really careful."