by wildcherry on Saturday, October 24th, 2009 | Health, News

President Barack Obama has signed a proclamation declaring swine flu a national emergency, the White House said Saturday.

“In keeping with the administration’s proactive approach to H1N1 Flu, President Obama last night signed a proclamation declaring 2009-H1N1 Influenza a national emergency,” it said in a statement. “The proclamation enhances the ability of our nation’s medical treatment facilities to handle a surge in H1N1 patients by allowing, as needed, the waiver of certain standard federal requirements on a case-by-case basis.”

Officials described the move as similar to a declaration ahead of a hurricane making landfall.

Read More:CNN

Tags: h1n1 national emergency, h1n1 outbreaks, national emergency, obama h1n1, obama swine flu, swine flu pandemic