Flint (WWJ) -- New information released Friday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates Michigan and 45 other states now have widespread flu activity.
Only Connecticut, Hawaii, New Jersey and South Carolina are without widespread flu.
According to the CDC, more than half of hospitalizations and nearly a quarter of deaths due to swine flu are in children and adults under 25. That has prompted some hospitals in southeast Michigan to take action to keep younger visitors out of hospitals in order to limit the spread of H1N1 flu.
Security officials at Flint's Hurley Medical Center say, effective immediately, children will not be allowed to visit patients at Hurley -- since they are the most likely to catch and spread the virus.
Officials with McLaren Regional Medical Center in Flint confirm they are preparing to make a similar announcement, with restrictions to become effective Monday.
WWJ spoke with officials at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, who say "standard visiting policies" remain in place at this time, but the hospital may limit visitation if flu cases reach a certain number.
St. John Health is updating signs to say that if you have a cough or cold, you should postpone your visit.
Stay with WWJ for the latest.
Meantime, public H1N1 vaccine clinics start this weekend in Metro Detroit. Check out our Swine Flu Resource Center.
The World Health Organization Friday said nearly 5,000 people have been reported dead from swine flu since it emerged earlier this year and developed into a global epidemic. More on this.
WHO said there were 4,999 total deaths through Oct. 18, most of them in the Western Hemisphere. The figure was up 264 from a week earlier.
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Michigan Senator Carl Levin addresses the Senate prior to a vote on the health care reform bill.
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