Hospitals across Triangle seeing 'record number' of flu cases

It's been called one of the deadliest flu seasons by doctors across the country. So far, in North Carolina, 67 people have died from the flu, but when do you make the call to seek medical attention?

As numbers continue to rise, nurses in UNC Rex Healthcare's Emergency Department wore masks on Monday. Doctors there have seen nearly 900 confirmed flu cases so far in January.

"Record numbers for us," said Dr. Ryan Lamb.

Lamb says doctors are concerned not just by the number, but by the severity of the cases.

"We're dealing with what we've seen when we get really big pandemics. We're seeing people who are sicker, who are unfortunately dying, large numbers of people wanting to be checked because they're concerned," he said.

Dr. Andrew Pickens, who runs the emergency department at Duke Raleigh Hospital, says children, the elderly and people with underlying health problems are at the highest risk. However, there are some red flags that should send anyone to the emergency room.

"If you start having trouble breathing, start passing out or any other serious symptoms, you need to be addressed. There are multiple places you can go to be seen," Pickens said.

Doctors say besides shortness of breathe and dizziness, another red flag is severe localized pain in a specific area.

To prevent visitors from bringing the flu into the hospital, or from getting the flu at the hospital, there are restrictions on visitation, which include fewer visitors and no children.

Signs and stations at every entrance encourage visitors to sanitize their hands and use face masks.

Officials at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center say they have had 619 flu cases in January, and WakeMed has had nearly 1,200 cases this month. Just in the last week, Duke Hospital and Durham Regional have had 41 cases.