The number of comfirmed Flu cases in North Dakota is nearing 25-hundred.

The State Health Department reports 2,475 confirmed flu cases this season - almost all of them are believed to be H1N1.

That's about one thousand more cases than were found in the state in the entire '08-'09 flu season.

Last year at this time there had been four flu cases in the state.

The high number of flu cases has kept many people home over the past few weeks, but fears of spreading the illness have also kept many visitors out of hospitals.

Minot's Trinity Health is one facility hoping to reduce the numbers through a current visitation policy.

In Trinity's Family Birth Center, visitation has been limited to parents of newborns only.

Anyone with flu or cold symptoms is also asked to avoid patient care areas for the time being.

Trinity Vice President, Randy Schwan, says these restrictions have become very common in hospitals throughout the country.

Since they were put in place, Trinity Hospital has experienced much fewer visitors, and although they have created some disappointment among family members, he feels they're important precautions to take.

(Randy Schwan, VP - Trinity Health) "We take the position that if there's any chance at all, it's worth taking. We'll lift them or modify them as we see fit, and as the conditions warrant around this. Right now, it's still in effect."


Schwan says they're waiting for a reduction in the current number of flu cases, specifically the H1N1 strain, before the restrictions can be lifted. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list