BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — The flu has sent a record-breaking number of people to the emergency room at Manatee Memorial Hospital.
The Bradenton Herald reports that the hospital on Monday broke its all-time, single day record for emergency room visits with 310 patients.
A hospital spokeswoman said the typical emergency room volume is 220 a day this time of year. Last year, the flu season in Manatee County started in September and October, but this year it blossomed two weeks ago.
Lakewood Ranch Hospital saw 141 emergency room patients on Monday, and on Tuesday, the Manatee Memorial ER had 260 patients by noon, well above the normal rate of 220 for the entire day.