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Health News
Obama names H1N1 a national emergency
WASHINGTON, Oct 24, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- U.S. President Barack Obama has
signed a proclamation naming the H1N1 influenza outbreak a national emergency,
the White House said Saturday.
The White House confirmed in a release Obama signed the proclamation Friday
night, paving the way for medical treatment facilities nationwide to better
handle the rising number of patients suspected of having H1N1, commonly known as
swine flu.
The proclamation allows those facilities to bypass, on a case-by-case basis,
certain standard federal requirements when it comes to treating possible H1N1
patients.
The Washington Post reported White House officials maintain the proclamation is
not the result of a new assessment regarding H1N1's threat to the general
public.
White House spokesman Reid Cherlin said Saturday the proclamation will simply
allow facilities to be better prepared for emergency situations involving H1N1
should they arise.
"The H1N1 is moving rapidly, as expected. By the time regions or healthcare
systems recognize they are becoming overburdened, they need to implement
disaster plans quickly," Cherlin said.
URL: www.upi.com
Copyright: Copyright 2009 by United Press International
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