Flu concerns grow in US as UK sees more cases among kids
Concerns about the flu spreading in the U.S. are growing as the U.K. continues to see a spike in cases among children and young adults.
The increased number of cases in the U.K., could be a predictor for the flu season in the U.S., according to ABC News chief medical correspondent Dr. Tara Narula.
"We know that England or other places can be a marker for what is going to happen here, because their flu season happens a few weeks earlier than ours," Narula said on "Good Morning America" Monday, adding, "We have low numbers of cases so far but they are increasing."
Some hospitals are starting to implement flu season visitor restrictions, including the Detroit Medical Center and Children's Hospital of Michigan, which are allowing, as of Monday , up to two visitors per patient and only those 13 years of age and older are permitted on inpatient hospital floors or in observation units.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , flu activity in the U.S. is up at least 7% in the last week, and so far, there have been nearly 2 million illnesses, 19,000 hospitalizations, and 730 deaths from the flu.
