Strict visitor restrictions are to remain at Cork University Hospital (CUH) and have now been extended to Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH), as a result of an outbreak of flu.

In CUH, patients can only see one named visitor per day and children will not be permitted at all. Visitors are also being asked to stick strictly to the visiting times of 2-4pm and 6.30-8.30pm.

In CUMH, only partners or husbands will be allowed to visit. Children will not be permitted at all.

The HSE has confirmed that the number of flu cases has risen in recent weeks and the illness is now ‘actively circulating in the community' (see more here). Furthermore, earlier this week, a patient at CUH was confirmed to have swine flu (H1N1) (see more here).

"In the interest of our patients we would appeal to people not to visit the hospitals during this time. The flu virus is highly contagious and can seriously affect patients who are already sick in hospital. The outbreak sees emergency admissions and discharges from the hospital being affected as patients with flu cannot be admitted to a ward or discharged to other healthcare facilities," noted Dr Mike Henry, a consultant respiratory physician at CUH.

However, the hospital said that outpatient clinics at both CUH and CUMH are operating as normal.

Anyone with queries about visiting should ring the hospitals in advance. The number for CUH is (021) 4922 000. The number for CUMH is (021) 4920 500.