HASTINGS — Visitors under age 14 are not permitted at Mary Lanning Healthcare until dangers from severe respiratory illness have passed.
According to Thursday’s Washington Post, a rare respiratory illness affecting mainly children has spread to at least 19 states, including Nebraska, Minnesota, New Jersey, Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, New York and Virginia. The rare virus strain, known as enterovirus 68, can cause severe breathing problems, according to the Centers for Disease Control. It is believed that many more people have the virus and that it will appear in additional states in the near future.
Ronda Ehly, Chief Nursing Officer at Mary Lanning Healthcare, said the restrictions have been established for patient safety reasons.
“At the suggestion of our physicians, Mary Lanning is taking the lead to protect our patients and visitors from this rare respiratory illness as much as possible,” Ehly said.
The CDC expects the number of infections will drop later in the year. When that happens, Mary Lanning will relax the restriction and again welcome visitors of all ages, Ehly said.