Tomorrow 11 Vermont hospitals will be working with the Health Department and Emergency Management to test their ability to respond to an influenza pandemic.
More than 100 officials will play out their roles in a simulated flu emergency.
The plan of the exercise will have the hospitals trying to cope with a 30 percent surge in patients caused by a theoretical flu outbreak.
The experts will also be tested on disease surveillance, investigation and control measures, rapid exchange of information and the simulated delivery of information to health care providers and the public.
Health experts across the world fear an outbreak of a new and severe strain of influenza that can spread easily from person to person.