Certain units at the Saint John Regional Hospital have been closed because of a severe flu outbreak. (CBC)

Hospitals and nursing homes in the Saint John region are restricting visitors in response to a severe strain of influenza.

Patients and nursing home residents are among the most vulnerable to flu outbreaks, which is prompting several Saint John-area health facilities to restrict access.

The restrictions are affecting several long-term care facilities, including St. Joseph's Hospital, Ridgewood Veterans Health Wing, Centracare, and the 3B South and 4B North units at the Saint John Regional Hospital.

Emergency rooms across the province are seeing growing numbers of patients with influenza.

Patients and nursing home residents are among the most vulnerable to influenza outbreaks.

The Department of Health’s influenza report indicated there had been 41 positive influenza cases as of Dec. 29, but that number jumped to 96 cases by Jan. 5.

The health department indicated there had been two influenza outbreaks in nursing homes in Saint John and Bathurst.