The health care system announced the restrictions went into effect Friday at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie and IU Health Blackford Hospital in Hartford City.

The flu season runs from October through May and last season ended with 69 flu deaths in Indiana.

The Indiana State Department of Health says flu cases are rising in many parts of the state and four Indiana residents have died of influenza since October.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the flu vaccine for everyone six months of age and older.

IU Health doctor says there are a number of reasons she is not recommending the mist.

The Marion County Health Department is seeing primarily Influenza A - but at this time of year they say you can see all kinds. H1N1 that circulated in 2009 is also showing up.

One inmate is dead after the H1N1 flu virus spread through the facility. Thirteen remain in the hospital, two in the Intensive Care Unit.

Flu season occurs annually, typically starting around October and continuing through May. The health department says seasonal flu viruses can vary from year to year, so it is important to get a flu vaccine every year.