By Matt Leingang
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati, the Tristate's biggest health system, issued visiting restrictions Friday at all its hospitals to combat the spread of the flu.

The restrictions apply to Christ Hospital, University Hospital, the St. Luke Hospitals, Jewish Hospital and Fort Hamilton Hospital.

No children under the age of 14 will be allowed to visit, and adult visitors with flu-like symptoms such as fever or cough will not be allowed, either. The policy will remain in effect during the flu outbreak.

St. Elizabeth Medical Center, with locations in Covington, Edgewood and Williamstown, Ky., also imposed visiting restrictions on children under 12.

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center imposed a similar restriction on visitors two weeks ago on children 13 or younger and anyone with symptoms of acute illness.

The hospital restrictions come as concern mounted about a flu season that has arrived early and powerfully in the Tristate.

Hospital emergency rooms swamped with patients are increasingly diverting life squads with noncritical care patients.

The 14 area hospitals tracked by the Greater Cincinnati Health Council have gone on diversion a combined 771.6 hours. That exceeds 515 hours from December 2002.

Going on diversion means hospitals ask life squads to take noncritical cases to other hospitals. By law, though, hospital emergency departments cannot turn away walk-ins.

People who don't have a serious health problem requiring immediate attention will wait as long as four to six hours at some hospitals, said Colleen O'Toole, vice president of the health council.

People with influenza and other respiratory illnesses are accounting for much of the December rush. But all manner of illness and injury are contributing.

"What's been lost in all the talk about flu is that we're seeing a significant number of bronchitis and pneumonia cases, as well," said Joe Kelley, spokesman for the TriHealth hospital group, which includes Good Samaritan and Bethesda North.

On Friday, seven hospitals were reported to be on diversion at various times: Bethesda North, Deaconess, Good Samaritan, Jewish, Mercy Anderson, Middletown and the Veterans Administration hospital.

Most flu vaccine supplies have been depleted. But Butler County announced Friday that it had purchased 500 doses from Bethesda North Hospital, which had kept a small stockpile.

County health officials plan to distribute shots from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at the VFW Post 1069, 1367 Hicks Boulevard, Fairfield. The VFW is donating its halls and parking lot.

"We heard that the hospital was offering the vaccine, and we said, 'Sure, we'll take it,' " said Patricia Burg, director of administration at the Butler County Health Department.

This particular vaccine - manufactured by Evans Vaccines - is intended for people age 4 and older, Burg said. No one younger than that should receive this vaccine.

The announcement was good news for Greater Cincinnati residents who are still trying to get the vaccine.

For the most part, local supplies of the flu vaccine are gone. Norwood used up its last 100 shots on Friday.

Area health districts don't expect shipments until after Jan. 1. That depends on the Ohio health department receiving doses from the federal government.

The flu outbreak is considered widespread by the Ohio Department of Health, meaning that influenza and influenza-lie illnesses are being reported in more than half the regions in the state.

The health department reported 2,249 suspected flu cases through last week, more than doubling the previous week's count of 1,038.

Officially, influenza has claimed the life only one Ohioan - a 1-year-old from Ross County, south of Columbus. But this week's death of 11-month-old Olivia Harrison of Forest Park appears to be flu-related, although experts stopped short of concluding that she died directly from the flu.

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E-mail mleingang@enquirer.com