In the face of an aggressive flu season, Wayne Memorial Hospital is asking all visitors with flu or flu-like symptoms to “visit on another day” or “visit by phone,” a recommendation from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Over the three months of October, November and December 2012, the hospital confirmed 24 cases of influenza A. Between October of 2011 and March 2012—six months—the hospital confirmed only three cases of the same disease.

“We are seeing a significant increase in flu cases, and we are taking precautionary measures to protect our patients, our staff and our visitors,” said James Pettinato, RN, director of Patient Care Services. Pettinato reported that the hospital’s emergency department is seeing approximately 10 more patients every day with flu-like symptoms. “And, in the hospital itself, among our admitted patients, we have five to 10 patients daily with complications related to flu-like symptoms.”