In Case Of Emergency, Read Blog

President Obama has signed a proclamation declaring the H1N1 flu a “national emergency,” according to Reuters:

The proclamation, which Obama signed Friday night, will make it easier for U.S. medical facilities to handle a surge in flu patients by allowing the waiver of some requirements of Medicare, Medicaid and other federal health insurance programs as needed, the White House said in a statement.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday that H1N1 swine flu has become widespread in 46 of the 50 U.S. states, a level comparable to the peak of ordinary flu seasons but far earlier and with more waves of infection expected.

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” and was similar to disaster declarations issued before hurricanes hit coastal areas.