2nd Georgia Swine Flu Case Confirmed

State health officials say Georgia now has a 2nd case of swine flu, or the H-1/N-1 virus. It has been confirmed in a 14-year-old boy in Henry County - his illness prompted the closing of a private school there for 14 days. Meanwhile, the director of the State Division of Public Health says there are 3 more suspected cases, and they're likely to be confirmed for the virus. Those cases involve a 3-year-old boy in Cobb County, an 8-year-old Clayton County girl, and a 36-year-old pregnant woman in DeKalb County. Officials stress that the three and the 14-year-old in Henry County, all have mild symptoms of 'H-1/N-1', and are at home. The first case in the state was a Kentucky woman who traveled to La Grange, and landed in the hospital there.

Governor Sonny Perdue on Monday gave an update on the virus in Georgia:

"...We are still taking all precautions for those who have flu-like symptoms. At this current time there seems to be no pandemic, epidemic of flu symptoms over the state... The fact is, aside from the visitor that we had in La Grange, none of these patients are hospitalized, they are being treated at home..."

Perdue says rapid result testing kits for the virus will soon be available in Georgia.

Hospital move more likely

Peach County Hospital in Middle Georgia is a step closer to getting a new location. The Peach County Hospital Authority has approved a feasibility study for the $27 million dollar move. The study says the hospital needs to move to improve its chances of recovering from financial woes. It says the new location would draw more physicians, who would bring in more patients.

State representative feeling better, leaves hospital

A Georgia state representative is scheduled to leave a Savannah hospital today. Ron Stephens checked in after feeling dizzy during a meeting.

He said the complications were due to exhaustion and jet lag.

Senate approves new hospital category

The state Senate today gave a national chain of cancer treatment hospitals an avenue to open shop in Georgia. Senators voted 31 to 23 to create a new category of "destination" hospitals. They would operate under different regulatory rules than other health care facilities. Critics say everyone should have to play by the same rules and that the for-profit company is receiving special treatment.

Specialty hospital approved for Athens

The Georgia Department of Community Health has approved a new specialty hospital for a 14-county area in northeast Georgia.

Landmark Holdings of Missouri has received a state certificate of need to build a 42-bed hospital in Athens to serve long-term acute care patients. The project would fill a gap between traditional hospitals and nursing homes.

Compared to Athens' two major hospitals, the Landmark facility would provide cheaper care for patients who need more than 25 days of treatment for complex wounds, infectious diseases, and long-term complications. According to the Athens Banner-Herald, people looking for that type of care now have to go to Atlanta.

Landmark plans to open the 10-million dollar hospital in 2008, on five acres near the north side of the Athens Perimeter Highway.

North Georgia to get new hospital

A new hospital is coming to North Georgia. The Athens Banner-Herald reports that the state has approved a 100-bed hospital for south Hall County. Gainesville-based Northeast Georgia Health System will build the facility off Thompson Mill Road near Georgia Highway 211. It’s a fast-growing area that borders Barrow, Jackson and Gwinnett counties. At first, the hospital will offer emergency, diagnostic and surgical service. It doesn’t plan on offering labor and delivery, or open-heart surgery initially. However, the hospital says obstetrics could be added as the new hospital campus grows.

Southeast Georgia gets new hospital

Clinch County east of Valdosta has a new, state-of-the-art hospital. The 25-bed Clinch Memorial Hospital opened doors yesterday in Homerville. The hospital has a telemedicine connection that allows doctors to access medical specialists across the state. It also includes a picture archiving system that allows doctors to e-mail radiology images to radiologists anywhere in the world. The hospital is Homerville’s fourth largest employer and officials hope it will bring more growth to Clinch County.