US doctors feel pinch of early flu season, push for vaccinations

CHICAGO (Reuters) – When Dr. Diane Chaney arrived for her morning shift at the University of Chicago Medicine’s emergency department on Monday, there were nine patients from the overnight shift waiting for treatment. By late morning, 36 patients, most with flu symptoms, were waiting. Across town, doctors at Rush University Medical Center have seen 203 flu patients since November 5, compared with 119 patients for the entire flu season last year. “We are coming to the point where we are running out of testing supplies,” said Dr. …