While some area hospitals and doctor’s offices have seen a small decrease in flu-like symptoms, others are still seeing an influx of patients.

For example, 64 of Natchez Community Hospital’s 80-plus beds were occupied as of Monday – a switch from last Wednesday, when nearly all its beds were full.

&uot;We’re still seeing some flu and pneumonia and saw quite a few people in the emergency room (Sunday), but they’re not having to admit as many,&uot; said Luridean Jackson, nurse manager at Natchez Community.

But at Riverland Medical Center in Ferriday, 37 out of 45 beds were occupied, down from 39 last Wednesday.

&uot;We’re still getting some patients with flu-like symptoms, but it’s certainly not as bad as the previous two weeks,&uot;&160;said Administrator Vernon Stevens.

Karen Fiducia, administrator of Natchez Regional Medical Center, could not be reached for comment Monday. In recent weeks, almost all of that hospital’s beds have been full, largely due to a rise in admissions of patients with flu-like illnesses.

And that trend seems to be spreading throughout the nation. Mississippi, Louisiana and 29 other states are ranked by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as reporting widespread flu-like illnesses.

And on Monday, the Oklahoma City-based National Flu Surveillance Network, a network of more than 3,650 reporting doctors, issued an flu alert for Mississippi.

Natchez doctor Charles Borum said he is still seeing 10 patients with respiratory complaints each day – and has been doing so since the Christmas holidays.

&uot;There’s no decrease in patients – we’re still rocking along pretty steady,&uot;&160;Borum said. &uot;It’s probably not been this bad since five or six years ago.&uot;

The flu-type cases could have been worse and more numerous if so many people had not gotten a flu shot this year. Borum said that his office alone vaccinated about 500 people against the flu since September.

The number of patients with respiratory complaints has slacked off in recent days but still remains high, said Shirley Hoggatt, clinic manager for Family Medical Center in Natchez.

&uot;We’re seeing about 80 patients a day total, including those with the flu and things similar to it, compared with a total of 60 patients on a usual day,&uot; Hoggatt said.

&uot;It generally affects the elderly or the very young the most, but this year it’s been all ages. It’s been rough on these people. It seems like everybody’s getting it.&uot;