Maybe a little credit to the crazy fat lady… President Barack Obama has declared a national emergency in America as swine flu deaths reached 1000. In Britain, meanwhile, 122 people have died and cases of swine flu have more than doubled in the past seven days. The flu, which has spread throughout much of the world and raised global alarm, has caused the deaths of more than 100 children in the US alone, and is widespread in 46 of America’s 50 states. However, the White House said that declaring an emergency was a largely precautionary step aimed at allowing medical officials to bypass certain federal regulations in the event of a genuine disaster. White House officials say the move was similar to precautions taken by coastal areas before a hurricane. “As a nation, we have prepared at all levels of government, and as individuals and communities, taking unprecedented steps to counter the emerging pandemic,” Obama wrote in the declaration that he signed late on Friday night. The emergency rules effectively cut through official red tape and free up resources to respond much faster in the event of a serious outbreak. The rules will allow waivers in government health insurance programmes, and also make it much easier for hospitals to quickly treat and process any large and sudden influx of patients infected with swine flu, also known as H1N1 virus. America is bracing for a particularly nasty flu season this year, accentuated by the rapid spread of swine flu. At the moment …
