The top health official in Indiana's most-populous county is urging people with mild flu cases not to visit hospital emergency rooms.
The Marion County Public Health Department said Tuesday that Indianapolis' hospitals are seeing an "extremely high" number of people with the flu and respiratory complaints.
County health Director Virginia A. Caine is urging anyone experiencing mild flu-like symptoms to avoid visiting hospital ERs to reduce demands on emergency services.
She says those with mild flu should instead first contact their primary care physician or visit an urgent care facility or community health center.
Caine says that "will allow emergency departments to focus resources on treating patients who are critically ill."
Marion County's hospitals began restricting visitors in January to curb flu-like illnesses. Other Indiana hospitals have done the same.