Obama Declares Swine Flu A National Emergency

[Sefket]

October 24, 2009 By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dr. Jonathan E. Fielding, receives

http://www.newsday.com/polopoly_fs/1.1546048.1256399560!image/1710761517.JPG_gen/derivatives/display_600/1710761517.JPG

Photo credit: Getty Images | Dr. Jonathan E. Fielding, receives an H1N1 vaccination during the launch of the first Public Health H1N1 vaccine clinics in Los Angeles County. On Saturday, President Barack Obama declared swine flu a national emergency. (October 23, 2009)

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WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama declared the swine flu outbreak a national emergency and empowered his health secretary to suspend federal guidelines at hospitals and speed up how infected people might receive treatment in a disaster.

The declaration that Obama signed late Friday means Health and Human Services chief Kathleen Sebelius to bypass federal rules when opening alternative care sites, such as offsite hospital centers at schools or community centers, if needed.

Hospitals could modify patient rules — for example, requiring them to give less information during a hectic time — to quicken access to treatment, with government approval.

The declaration, which the White House announced Saturday, allows HHS in some cases to let hospitals relocate emergency rooms offsite to reduce flu-related burdens and to protect noninfected patients.

Administration officials said the declaration was a pre-emptive move designed to make decisions easier when they need to be made. Officials said this was not in response to any single development on an outbreak that has lasted months and has killed more than 1,000 people in the United States.

It was the second of two steps needed to give Sebelius extraordinary powers during a crisis. On April 26, the administration declared swine flu a public health emergency, allowing the shipment of roughly 12 million doses of flu-fighting medications from a federal stockpile to states in case they eventually needed them. At the time, there were 20 confirmed cases in the U.S. of people recovering easily. There was no vaccine against swine flu, but the CDC had taken the initial step necessary for producing one.

“As a nation, we have prepared at all levels of government, and as individuals and communities, taking unprecedented steps to counter the emerging pandemic,” Obama wrote in the declaration.

He said the pandemic keeps evolving, the rates of illness are rising rapidly in many areas and there’s a potential “to overburden health care resources.”

Because of vaccine production delays, the government has backed off initial, optimistic estimates that as many as 120 million doses would be available by mid-October. As of Wednesday, only 11 million doses had been shipped to health departments, doctor’s offices and other providers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials said.

connections

    * Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

    * Barack Obama Barack Obama

    * US Food and Drug Administration US Food and Drug Administration

    * World Health Organization World Health Organization

    * NFL NFL

The government now hopes to have about 50 million doses of swine flu vaccine out by mid-November and 150 million in December.

The flu virus has to be grown in chicken eggs, and the yield hasn’t been as high as was initially hoped, officials explained.

Swine flu is more widespread now than it’s ever been. Health authorities say almost 100 children have died from the flu, known as H1N1, and 46 states now have widespread flu activity.

Worldwide, more than 5,000 people have reportedly died from swine flu since it emerged this year and developed into a global epidemic, the World Health Organization said Friday. Since most countries have stopped counting individual swine flu cases, the figure is considered an underestimate.

http://www.newsday.com/news/health/obama-declares-swine-flu-a-national-emergency-1.1546045

Just when I thought this would of been over... Oh gosh.

[Luke]

Swine flu is overated, it's the same as the regular flu, except a different virus strand...I had it this past week, I'm fine now, people need to quit their panicking.

Obviously get out vaccines, and move on.

[I Gripple I]

Oo Luke

good to hear taht your better

:)

[Marc|Criti]

in france, government is concerned that flu hasnt killed anyone yet, and they aren't going to use everything they bought to counter it.

lawl

[Sam|Hooded]

Swine flu is overated, it's the same as the regular flu, except a different virus strand...I had it this past week, I'm fine now, people need to quit their panicking.

Obviously get out vaccines, and move on.

I was gonna post, but that just about summed it up, my cousin, my uncle and 4 of my mates have had it.. They're over it, we should all get over it

[Cholesterol]

Pig Flu

[vult]

Mum + sister had it.

is overated.

[I C0NN0R I]

I had swine flu a few weeks ago, local doctor recommended i go to hospital, was likefuck that, got better relatively fast, its only bad if ur a dirty Mexican, a baby, or really old.

[Mikey`]

Yeah i agree its a bit overrated, can't help but feel a little uneasy that more people die from it then the normal flu.  If you dont want it just wash your hands alot lol.

[Devlz]

Some 14 year old girl here without any other diseases died from the swine flu a few days ago.

[o0 Thug o0]

Some 14 year old girl here without any other diseases died from the swine flu a few days ago.

god run out of virgin girls. she got recruited lol.

[Have Uh Cry]

I had it, overrated in australia... a few days off is all you need i think the ppl that died also had other sicknesses too? not 100% sure

but i hear theres a new version of it going thru asia?

[Adolesc3nt]

Some 14 year old girl here without any other diseases died from the swine flu a few days ago.

god run out of virgin girls. she got recruited lol.

LMFAO

[d72]

An excuse to wear an industrial-strength gasmask without being looked at like a fucking retard. Yay!