Flu cases decrease in Tuscaloosa area

Flu cases reported at DCH Health System hospitals last week decreased 29 percent compared to the previous week.

There were 834 tests conducted for patients with flulike symptoms at DCH Regional Medical Center and Northport Medical Center for the week that ended Feb. 17. Of the tests conducted, 172 were positive for a strain of the flu.

The week before, 242 of the 937 test conducted at the medical centers were positive for the flu.

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

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