Huntsville Hospital is delaying some non-emergency surgeries due to a critical shortage of IV fluids.

The hospital has announced the delay, which officials stress does not cancel surgeries.

The delay is coming after damage from Hurricane Helene to Baxter International’s factory in Marion, N.C. Baxter provides a major portion of the IV fluids used in hospitals across the nation. Other hospitals around the country are taking similar action.

Huntsville Hospital President and COO Tracy Doughty said that Baxter has reported that it could be months before the plant is back to full operation.

“In the meantime, we were told that we would receive about 40 percent of our normal fluid supply for the time being. We do not know how long that period will be,” Doughty said.

As a result, the hospital is limiting non-emergency surgeries that use high volumes of fluids, such as some orthopedic, urology and gynecological surgeries.

All uses of fluids will be evaluated according to the patient need and the available supply, he said.

“We have to make certain that we are prepared for emergencies,” he said.

In the meantime, the hospital is working to find new sources of IV fluids.

The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday announced it had authorized imports of IV products to bridge the gap. This came after the American Hospital Association (AHA) asked the Biden Administration to take immediate actions to increase the supply of IV solutions for the nation’s hospitals.

The New York Times is reporting that Baxter said in a statement early Wednesday that its foreign plants were ramping up production and anticipating F.D.A. authorization to export their goods. The company statement said it planned to resume production in phases by the end of this year.