Mercy Health-Bluffton Family Practice offers some advice if you think you have the flu and need care: Bluffton Family Medicine offers walk-in care from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday-Friday and is a perfect place to get the care you need, quickly and affordably. It also offers a "Evisit" available from your home through the Mercy Health MyChart app.

Concerning visits to St. Rita's Medical Center
Mercy Health – St. Rita’s Medical Center, Lima, is asking those who have the flu or are experiencing flu symptoms to refrain from visiting others in the hospital to help stop the spread of the flu.

Visitors are asked to please help us protect our patients, their families and our employees by adhering to the following guidelines when visiting the hospital:
•        No children under 14 years old should come to the hospital unless they need medical care. If you feel you have special circumstances, please talk to one of our nursing supervisors.
•         All visitors should be healthy. Do not visit if you feel sick or have symptoms of a cold, flu or another illness.
•         Cover your cough. Please request a mask, or you may be asked to wear one, if you are coughing frequently. Otherwise, when you sneeze or cough, please do so into your sleeve.
•        Wash your hands frequently.

Symptoms of influenza can include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Although most people fully recover from the flu, some experience severe illness like pneumonia and respiratory failure, and the flu can sometimes be fatal. People who think that they may have the flu and are pregnant, have an underlying medical condition, or who are extremely ill should contact their healthcare provider immediately.

If you are sick, some effective ways to help prevent the spreading of flu include:

•         Stay home and avoid contact with people for at least 24 hours after your fever subsides without the use of fever-reducing medicine.
•        Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
•         Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
•         Take flu antiviral drugs if your doctor recommends them.