Mass. hospitals limit visits amid flu fears

WORCESTER, Mass.—Several Massachusetts hospitals are barring or limiting visits by children in response to swine flu fears.

Children 13 or younger will not be allowed to visit patients at the UMass Memorial Medical Center hospital’s three Worcester campuses. The policy applies to all young children healthy or not. Anyone showing possible flu symptoms will be prevented from visiting patients.

Southcoast Hospitals Group is barring anyone under the age of 18 from visiting patients in the pediatric and maternity wards at its hospitals in New Bedford, Fall River and Wareham.

Hospital officials said the policies are aimed at protecting patients and staff. They said children who have been exposed to H1N1 are often contagious before showing symptoms.