Emory University Preps for H1N1 Virus

Georgia is one of only two states where the H1N1 virus is considered widespread. The other state is Alaska. Universities and hospitals are gearing up and making changes to deal with the swine flu.

Dr. Bruce Ribner, an epidemiologist and infections disease doctor at Emory University, said the H1N1 virus is different than anything they've ever dealt with.

On Wednesday, Emory University officials decided how they will deal with the increasing number of cases.

The H1N1 virus has hit Georgia hard.

"We all know Georgia seems to be the epicenter of much of the United States," said Dr. Ribner.

Dr. Ribner said the state is being overwhelmed by H1N1. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Georgia is the first state with widespread swine flu activity in the continental U.S.

"We're not talking about 70-year-olds here. We're talking, we've got two patients in ICU right now where they're in their 30's, no medical history and on ventilators. So, this is not what we usually see during season influenza," said Dr. Ribner.

Dr. Ribner said Emory is coming up with various plans to deal with increased flu activity, including increasing the hours of the student health clinic on campus so that the hospital doesn't get overwhelmed by students.

"We've already had a number of nurses who have called in sick. Yesterday, it was a major impact in certain points of the hospital," said Dr. Ribner. "We now have formal call trees now so if one person is sick we know who can replace them."

Emory's epidemiologist said they're coming up with a plan to cancel elective surgeries if need be so they'll have plenty of room in ICU.

"Some of these young people spend a week or two on ventilators so when they come in they're a long term commitment. If we have an open heart surgery scheduled and those patients are going into ICU for several days, at some point we're not going to have the capability to do open heart surgeries until the epidemic is over.

Emory has not yet canceled any surgeries but that is the plan if the number of H1N1 cases gets significantly higher.