Due to influenza spreading in the Flathead Valley, Kalispell Regional Medical Center is imposing visitor restrictions.

Visitors age 13 and younger will not be allowed in the hospital, no patient will be allowed more than two visitors at a time, any symptomatic visitors will be asked to wear masks, and all visitors are being asked to wash hands before and after visiting a patient.

The restrictions for children came about because children are less likely to wash hands and more likely to bring disease into the hospital.

More than 130 influenza cases have been reported in the Flathead. 

Nancy Kimball, a communications representative for Kalispell Regional Healthcare, said the influenza surge is partly due to a change in the virus.

“In my understanding, the reason we have so many more cases is the flu that was contained in this year’s vaccine, H3N2, has mutated,” she said. “They call it drift, but it has mutated and those who got vaccinated can still get influenza A, although it won’t be as bad.”

Influenza can be transmitted before people become symptomatic or during their recovery from the illness. Proper infection care, such as washing hands and covering coughs and sneezes, can go a long way to limit the spread of disease.

Extreme circumstances, such as end-of-life care, could warrant a reconsideration of the hospital restrictions on an individual basis.