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Flu outbreak causes hospitals to turn away patients

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    Illness hits Chicago-area hospitals hard

  • Duration 1:31
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Because somebody patients with flu like symptoms are flooding emergency rooms in Chicago several hospitals are what's called bypass status.

Where the hospitals are turning away ambulances would nonemergency cases and directing them to other hospitals with your patience.

It definitely feels like refinements that happy this year and people -- -- everywhere.

Around 150 people have been admitted to intensive care units in the area -- -- so far this season in six have died according to the Illinois department of public health.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Illinois among 29 states reporting hi flu activity 41 states reporting widespread.

Geographic flu activity for the week ended December 20 night.

So we're seeing an early spike.

At least compared to last five or six years of some very early.

And we don't know what the -- user US health officials say the strain of influenza virus going around this year has been linked to -- hospital admissions and -- Wanted to lingering questions include why this season has been so bad so -- There -- theories out there I don't think anyone knows for sure the answer to that question sometimes you have to wait for the whole flu season tonight.

They're complete its you know complete its course and be able to reflect.

One theory people are going to work or school with the flu from spreading the virus usually recommend people stay home until they want to have -- he backed -- and -- for at least one.

Health officials around the country agree that it is not too late to get a flu shot and if you haven't gotten one.

Getting one would be a really good idea this season.

In Chicago Steve Brown Fox News.