FARMINGTON — For the safety of the babies on the Franklin Memorial Hospital Maternal and Child Health Unit (MCH), no children under the age of 12 are allowed on the unit this flu season, unless they are healthy siblings of an infant in the unit. All other visitors must also be feeling well and should wash their hands before and after entering the unit.

“We need to protect our vulnerable patients,” said Rebecca Wood, VP of patient care services and chief nursing officer.

“Because newborns cannot be vaccinated for flu, they should not have any unnecessary exposure to people with respiratory or other contagious illnesses.”

Influenza activity in Maine is now widespread with providers reporting laboratory confirmed influenza in all 16 counties. Maine’s Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory confirmed influenza A/pH1N1, influenza A/H3, influenza B/Victoria, and influenza B/Yamagata are all circulating in Maine.

For additional information, call the MCH unit at 779-2295