Obama declares swine flu a national emergency

The White House statement said the declaration was intended to prepare the country in case of “a rapid increase in illness that may overburden health care resources”. It was similar to disaster declarations issued before hurricanes hit coastal areas.

Its important to note that this is a proactive measure not a response to a new development, an administration official said.

H1N1 is moving rapidly,as expected. By the time regions or healthcare systems recognise they are becoming overburdened,they need to implement disaster plans quickly, he said.

H1N1 has killed more than 1,000 Americans and put more than 20,000 in the hospital in the United States since it emerged earlier this year,the CDC said. But health officials are quick to note that the actual number of cases cannot be measured.

H1N1 swine flu had been declared a public health emergency earlier in the year.

The new declaration clears the way for waivers of federal requirements that,for example,could prevent hospitals from establishing off-site,alternate care facilities that could help them deal with emergency department demands,the White House said.