The flu virus continues to spread across the north, with the County Community Hospital in Invergordon being the latest to close to new admissions after a number of patients were diagnosed.
NHS Highlands last night urged the public to become “flu aware” in a bid to curtail the spread.
Three patients at the Invergordon hospital have been confirmed with flu, and there are further patients experiencing respiratory symptoms.
Visitors are being kept to an absolute minimum, with relatives and friends being asked to stay away unless in special circumstances.
Raigmore Hospital in Inverness still has visiting suspended due to flu.
The Royal Northern Infirmary, which was closed to new admissions on January 3, has now reopened but health chiefs are asking that members of the public still do not to visit if they have respiratory symptoms or symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting.
Catherine Stokoe, head of infection control, said they were seeing evidence of flu spreading across the community and that it was everyone’s business to be flu aware.
She said: “Flu is certainly circulating in the community and with confirmed cases coming into more of our hospitals, as well as care homes reporting confirmed flu, we are keen to limit the spread as much as possible.
“By restricting visiting to the affected areas it helps hospital staff protect the health, privacy and dignity of our patients. We really do appreciate everyone’s co-operation and understanding at this time.”
NHS Highland stresses that the flu vaccine is the best defence against the spread of flu and it still isn’t too late to get vaccinated.
People suffering with flu-like symptoms are advised that they should cough or sneeze into tissues and bin them immediately, wash their hands regularly with soap and warm water and frequently clean regularly used surfaces to stop the spread of flu.
Also, avoid having unnecessary contact with other people if you or they have symptoms of flu.
