Obama Video:Pres. Obama Declares H1N1 A National Emergency

by PHILIP ELLIOTT, Associated Press Writer Philip Elliott, Associated Press Writer – Sat Oct 24, 7:52 pm ET

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama declared the swine flu outbreak a national emergency, giving his health chief the power to let hospitals move emergency rooms offsite to speed treatment and protect noninfected patients.

The declaration, signed Friday night and announced Saturday, comes with the disease more prevalent than ever in the country and production delays undercutting the government's initial, optimistic estimates that as many as 120 million doses of the vaccine could be available by mid-October.

The national emergency declaration was the second of two steps needed to give Sebelius extraordinary powers during a crisis.

"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 Saturday's declaration.

He said the pandemic keeps evolving, the rates of illness are rising rapidly in many areas and there's a potential "to overburden health care resources."

Related:Avoid Flu Shots, take Vitamin D Instead

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