OBAMA DECLARES SWINE FLU A NATIONAL EMERGENCY

US President Barack Obama has declared swine flu a national emergency. The White House said the president has signed the proclamation concerning the 2009 H1N1 outbreak. It increases the ability of treatment facilities to handle a surge in H1N1 patients by easing the implementation of emergency plans. U.S officials have recently said swine flu activity was widespread in 46 states. More than 1,000 US deaths have been linked to the virus. Health officials say the infections are already comparable to peak season flu levels. The proclamation allows authorities to bypass certain federal requirements in order to deal more effectively with emergencies. The aim of the directive is to remove bureaucratic hurdles, allowing sick patients to receive treatment more quickly and giving health-care providers more flexibility in providing it. Paperwork on patients can be reduced and additional health centres set up outside hospitals to care for the sick.