Flu cases continue to increase in Tuscaloosa

Flu cases reported at DCH Health System hospitals continued to increase last week, reaching the highest number so far this season as influenza activity remains widespread in the state.

Last week, 937 tests were conducted at DCH Regional Medical Center and Northport Medical Center on people who visited their emergency rooms with flulike symptoms.

At least, 242, or about 26 percent, were positive for a strain of the flu. During the first week of February, 28 percent of the 893 tests conducted were positive for strains of the flu.

The cases reported by DCH do not represent the total cases for the county, but offer an indicator of the trend for the area.

The flu remains widespread in Alabama with H1NI and H3 the most common strains in the west central region of the state.

DCH is asking people with symptoms of the flu not to visit the hospitals and those without symptoms to limit visits during flu season.