Hospitals and other health care professionals, along with schools and other public places, are taking steps to combat influenza - in particular, the H1N1 variety.

In some cases, such as hospitals (like New Ulm Medical Center) limiting patients' visitors and visiting hours, the preventive measures may result in some inconvenience. Other steps, such as giving priority for flu vaccine to health care workers and children, may not seem fair to those who have to wait to be vaccinated. But they make great sense when you consider the importance of protecting those already sick and those most likely to suffer most severely from the flu.

We applaud those who have taken a thoughtful "ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" attitude toward the flu. By taking steps to prevent the spread of disease and vaccinating people most in danger from the flu first, those responsible are doing a service for us all. We urge the public to cooperate.