Overwhelmed By Flu Bug, Chicago ERs Reroute Non-Critical Patients

According to the Chicago Tribune, seven Chicago-area hospitals are so overwhelmed by an influx of patients with flu-like symptoms that they had to re-route non-critical patients to other hospitals this morning.

Doctors at the hospitals are reminding citizens that the flu in and of itself is not a reason to visit the emergency room. Typically, emergency attention is not necessary unless the flu is accompanied by a shortness of breath or the patient has another serious illness, such as heart disease. Instead, flu sufferers should first contact their healthcare provider or local health department.

Illinois is among the 29 states that the CDC listed as experiencing "high" flu activity as of last Friday.

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