# 3883
This declaration doesn’t appear to have come about due to any change in the virulence of the virus.
Rather, this move is designed to clear the way for some emergency measures which become easier to implement once a declaration of a National Emergency has been made.
The `more than 1,000 deaths’, widely cited over the past 24 hours, likely represents a substantial undercount, given that many P&I (Pneumonia & Influenza) deaths are not tallied, and fewer still are tested for the H1N1 virus.
This report from the AP.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Obama declares national emergency for H1N1
By Associated Press
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has declared the swine flu outbreak a national emergency.
The White House on Saturday said Obama signed a proclamation that would allow medical officials to bypass certain federal requirements. Officials described the move as similar to a declaration ahead of a hurricane making landfall.
Swine flu is more widespread now than it's ever been and has resulted in more than 1,000 U.S. deaths so far.
Health authorities say almost 100 children have died from the flu, known as H1N1, and 46 states now have widespread flu activity.
The White House said Obama signed the declaration on Friday evening.
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