Some Des Moines hospitals may limits visitors to newborns to ward off the swine flu.
The city's two main hospital chains, Iowa Health-Des Moines and
Mercy Medical Center, say grandparents, young brothers and sisters
and well-wishers may be banned from maternity wards because of
concerns that they might bring the H1N1 flu with them.
Under proposed rules, only immediate family would be allowed in
the birthing centers, and siblings younger than about 14 would not
be allowed in.
Pregnant women and newborn babies are among the most susceptible
to serious complications from the virus. Young adults and children
have been more susceptible to the H1N1 virus than they are to most
flus.
