Metro emergency rooms are being flooded with patients who are complaining of flu-like symptoms.

Nebraska Medical Center's ER, on average, sees 165 patients a day which is higher than normal for this time of year. On Monday 207 people came to the emergency room. 20% have influenza-like symptoms.

"What we're seeing in the community is a widespread epidemic of H1N1 influenza," says Dr. Mark Rupp, UNMC Infectious Disease Specialist.

Children's Hospital and Medical Center has been extremely busy as well. On Sunday, the ER was the busiest ever. Doctors saw 155 children. 60% had influenza-like symptoms. That high level has sparked new policy. Every person who comes in the Children's ER now is required to wear a mask to keep H1N1 from spreading.

"It's the fear factor that's driving people to the ER," says Chris Voss, father of three young boys in Omaha. He hasn't had to make that call but he understands why parents go the emergency room. Many are trying to do what's right but no one wants to be wrong.

"A lot of those people don't need to be seeking medical care that's one of the messages we want to get out," says Dr. Rupp. "The H1N1 behaves like the seasonal flu. Most people will do just fine. They have aches and pains, fever, cough, sore throat and it will run its course.”

The number of patients to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs has doubled in a week. It's tripled at some of Alegent's regional facilities outside of the metro.

Experts say the vaccine is still the first and most prominent way of preventing H1N1. 13-million doses are out there but high risk patients and medical workers are up first. For example, the Nebraska Medical Center needs at least 35,000 doses and has received 650 so far.

The Douglas County Health Department is still planning on holding vaccination clinics for those who are not high risk by the end of the October or early November.