Logo

Edav Nomad · 10-24-2009, 02:22 PM

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.

Health authorities say more than 1,000 people in the United States, including almost 100 children, have died from the flu, known as H1N1, and 46 states have widespread flu activity. So far only 11 million doses have gone out to health departments, doctor's offices and other providers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials.

Administration officials said the declaration was a pre-emptive move designed to make decisions easier when they need to be made. Officials said the move was not in response to any single development.

Health and Human Services chief Kathleen Sebelius now has authority to bypass federal rules when opening alternative care sites, such as offsite hospital centers at schools or community centers if hospitals seek permission.

Some hospitals have opened drive-thrus and drive-up tent clinics to screen and treat swine flu patients. The idea is to keep infectious people out of regular emergency rooms and away from other sick patients.

Hospitals could modify patient rules — for example, requiring them to give less information during a hectic time — to quicken access to treatment, with government approval, under the declaration.

It also addresses a financial question for hospitals — reimbursement for treating people at sites not typically approved. For instance, federal rules do not allow hospitals to put up treatment tents more than 200 yard away from the doors; if the tents are 300 yards or more away, typically federal dollars won't go to pay for treatment.

Administration officials said those rules might not make sense while fighting the swine flu, especially if the best piece of pavement is in the middle of a parking lot and some medical centers already are putting in place parts of their emergency plans.

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

On April 26, the administration declared swine flu a public health emergency, allowing the shipment of roughly 12 million doses of flu-fighting medications from a federal stockpile to states in case they eventually needed them. At the time, there were 20 confirmed cases in the U.S. of people recovering easily. There was no vaccine against swine flu, but the CDC had taken the initial step necessary for producing one.

"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."

The government now hopes to have about 50 million doses of swine flu vaccine out by mid-November and 150 million in December. The flu virus has to be grown in chicken eggs, and the yield hasn't been as high as was initially hoped, officials have said.

"Many millions" of Americans have had swine flu so far, according to an estimate that CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden gave Friday. The government doesn't test everyone to confirm swine flu so it doesn't have an exact count. He also said there have been more than 20,000 hospitalizations.

Obama declares swine flu a national emergency - Yahoo! News

This is a very good thing. I know someone who had the Swine Flu and she was out from work for several weeks. It is not something to mess around with.

**Beebo Brink** · 10-24-2009, 02:45 PM

achoo!

MissKillian Barbosa · 10-24-2009, 02:51 PM

Swine flu.. I has some

Colette Meiji · 10-24-2009, 02:54 PM

sorry to hear that MissKillian, hopefully you get better soon.

Tracer Graves · 10-24-2009, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissKillian Barbosa

Swine flu.. I has some

been there, done that.

Hope you feel better soon.

Spaceman Opus · 10-24-2009, 03:04 PM

My mother's had something for the last few days, her doctor's office said "we're not diagnosing or treating so it doesn't spread here...get a chest xray" (which was clear).

Allana Dion · 10-24-2009, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spaceman Opus

My mother's had something for the last few days, her doctor's office said "we're not diagnosing or treating so it doesn't spread here...get a chest xray" (which was clear).

A doctor's office deciding not to treat something because they don't want to catch it? She needs a more concerned doctor.

Cindy Claveau · 10-24-2009, 03:18 PM

detrius · 10-24-2009, 03:51 PM

This doctor sounds like an ignorant twatwaffle now, doesn't he?

Cubey Terra · 10-24-2009, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allana Dion

A doctor's office deciding not to treat something because they don't want to catch it? She needs a more concerned doctor.

It's better than that. If someone comes in with swine flu, they can just not diagnose it as such and the clinic will be magically free of H1N1!

Mocksoup Graves · 10-24-2009, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cubey Terra

It's better than that. If someone comes in with swine flu, they can just not diagnose it as such and the clinic will be magically free of H1N1!

And this is why I believe my favorite doctor left the practice abruptly and got a job with the college. Ethical differences.

Mocksoup Graves · 10-24-2009, 04:29 PM

I agree with Dr. Paul on this (not about the Government playing a part in the heath care business, more about the media hype surrounding it)

Yes, it is dangerous. And yes, it does suck. It isn't any MORE dangerous than TB or Meningitis.

Gigs · 10-24-2009, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mocksoup Graves

I agree with Dr. Paul

Gigs · 10-24-2009, 04:50 PM

Wait, does this mean Obama is going to shut down the Internet now?

**Roxanne Blue** · 10-24-2009, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mocksoup Graves

I agree with Dr. Paul on this (not about the Government playing a part in the heath care business, more about the media hype surrounding it)

Yes, it is dangerous. And yes, it does suck. It isn't any MORE dangerous than TB or Meningitis.

Both of which are considered to be significantly dangerous diseases the last time I checked with my physician....

**Roxanne Blue** · 10-24-2009, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gigs

Wait, does this mean Obama is going to shut down the Internet now?

Only yours, Gigs...

**Jesse Barnett** · 10-24-2009, 05:38 PM

People really need to educate themselves. The H1N1 virus is a man made virus bio-engineered at Plum Island, which is the nation's only Bio-hazard Level 5 laboratory. It was specifically created by President Obama, who is really the anti-Christ, to reduce the world's population. Only a select few have been given the real immunization shot and 6 months after the world's population has been decimated, the virus will mutate once again and turn the survivors into large breasted blonds with a low IQ and amazing oral skills.

Arilynn · 10-24-2009, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jesse Barnett

People really need to educate themselves. The H1N1 virus is a man made virus bio-engineered at Plum Island, which is the nation's only Bio-hazard Level 5 laboratory. It was specifically created by President Obama, who is really the anti-Christ, to reduce the world's population. Only a select few have been given the real immunization shot and 6 months after the world's population has been decimated, the virus will mutate once again and turn the survivors into large breasted blonds with a low IQ and amazing oral skills.

And it's obvious that they beta-tested in SL!

Teeny Leviathan · 10-24-2009, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by detrius

This doctor sounds like an ignorant twatwaffle now, doesn't he?

Commercial flights are more affordable these days. People are more mobile in 2009 than they were in 1976. Better to err on the side of caution.

Mocksoup Graves · 10-24-2009, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roxanne Blue

Both of which are considered to be significantly dangerous diseases the last time I checked with my physician....

Right. This one just seems to be getting alot of press. It sells papers, or ad space. It isn't really about public health, it's about fear.

detrius · 10-24-2009, 07:53 PM

Speaking of the devil... I've been suffering from a slight cold with running nose and coughing for the past days which now has turned into a full-blown flu with symptoms including headache, fever, shivering, dizzyness and rheumatic pain within mere hours. Yay me!

*off to get myself some hot milk with honey*

Tracer Graves · 10-24-2009, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by detrius

Speaking of the devil... I've been suffering from a slight cold with running nose and coughing for the past days which now has turned into a full-blown flu with symptoms including headache, fever, shivering, dizzyness and rheumatic pain within mere hours. Yay me!

*off to get myself some hot milk with honey*

don't forget the D3

Arilynn · 10-24-2009, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by detrius

Speaking of the devil... I've been suffering from a slight cold with running nose and coughing for the past days which now has turned into a full-blown flu with symptoms including headache, fever, shivering, dizzyness and rheumatic pain within mere hours. Yay me!

*off to get myself some hot milk with honey*

Sounds miserable, Detrius. Hope you feel better soon.

Tracer Graves · 10-24-2009, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by detrius

*off to get myself some hot milk with honey*

That reminds me. Just last night I mixed hot water and honey with the blueberry cordial that mockie made a while back. It was verry yum.

Kristian · 10-25-2009, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jesse Barnett

People really need to educate themselves. The H1N1 virus is a man made virus bio-engineered at Plum Island, which is the nation's only Bio-hazard Level 5 laboratory. It was specifically created by President Obama, who is really the anti-Christ, to reduce the world's population. Only a select few have been given the real immunization shot and 6 months after the world's population has been decimated, the virus will mutate once again and turn the survivors into large breasted blonds with a low IQ and amazing oral skills.

I believe I may have actually read this story in alt.sex.stories.erotica a couple years ago.

10-24-2009, 02:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
Edav Nomad Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Behind You Posts: 4,317 My Mood: SL Join Date: June 12, 2003 XBOX Leaderboard: 4^th	Obama Declares Swine Flu a National Emergency 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. Health authorities say more than 1,000 people in the United States, including almost 100 children, have died from the flu, known as H1N1, and 46 states have widespread flu activity. So far only 11 million doses have gone out to health departments, doctor's offices and other providers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials. Administration officials said the declaration was a pre-emptive move designed to make decisions easier when they need to be made. Officials said the move was not in response to any single development. Health and Human Services chief Kathleen Sebelius now has authority to bypass federal rules when opening alternative care sites, such as offsite hospital centers at schools or community centers if hospitals seek permission. Some hospitals have opened drive-thrus and drive-up tent clinics to screen and treat swine flu patients. The idea is to keep infectious people out of regular emergency rooms and away from other sick patients. Hospitals could modify patient rules — for example, requiring them to give less information during a hectic time — to quicken access to treatment, with government approval, under the declaration. It also addresses a financial question for hospitals — reimbursement for treating people at sites not typically approved. For instance, federal rules do not allow hospitals to put up treatment tents more than 200 yard away from the doors; if the tents are 300 yards or more away, typically federal dollars won't go to pay for treatment. Administration officials said those rules might not make sense while fighting the swine flu, especially if the best piece of pavement is in the middle of a parking lot and some medical centers already are putting in place parts of their emergency plans. The national emergency declaration was the second of two steps needed to give Sebelius extraordinary powers during a crisis. On April 26, the administration declared swine flu a public health emergency, allowing the shipment of roughly 12 million doses of flu-fighting medications from a federal stockpile to states in case they eventually needed them. At the time, there were 20 confirmed cases in the U.S. of people recovering easily. There was no vaccine against swine flu, but the CDC had taken the initial step necessary for producing one. "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." The government now hopes to have about 50 million doses of swine flu vaccine out by mid-November and 150 million in December. The flu virus has to be grown in chicken eggs, and the yield hasn't been as high as was initially hoped, officials have said. "Many millions" of Americans have had swine flu so far, according to an estimate that CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden gave Friday. The government doesn't test everyone to confirm swine flu so it doesn't have an exact count. He also said there have been more than 20,000 hospitalizations. Obama declares swine flu a national emergency - Yahoo! News This is a very good thing. I know someone who had the Swine Flu and she was out from work for several weeks. It is not something to mess around with. __________________

10-24-2009, 02:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
Beebo Brink Uppity Alt SLU Supporter I'm the woman your mother warned you about. Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 4,869 My Mood: SLShopper Ads: 19 SL Join Date: October 2006 Business: Brazen Women Shapes and Skins	achoo! __________________ Browse http://www.BrazenWomen.com

10-24-2009, 02:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
MissKillian Barbosa Slackers unite!! Later.. Bo-yaa Baby! Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: In a castle on a cloud. Posts: 1,999 My Mood: SL Join Date: 2/2007 Blog Entries: 2	Swine flu.. I has some __________________ Silly Ol' Killy Dilly

10-24-2009, 03:18 PM	#8 (permalink)
Cindy Claveau Cheap but never free "-ish" Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 12,554 My Mood: SL Join Date: May, 2005 Awards: 2	__________________ Sometimes, "I hit it with my axe" is the best solution.

10-24-2009, 03:51 PM	#9 (permalink)
detrius Senior Member notorious subversive Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Germany Posts: 2,303 My Mood:	This doctor sounds like an ignorant twatwaffle now, doesn't he? __________________ "V Pravde net izvestiy, v Izvestiyakh net pravdy."

10-24-2009, 02:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
Colette Meiji Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 7,590 My Mood:	sorry to hear that MissKillian, hopefully you get better soon.

10-24-2009, 04:29 PM	#12 (permalink)
Mocksoup Graves Senior Member is feeling rather bitchy again. edits host file Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3,140 My Mood: SL Join Date: March of 2007... I think Business: desolation/grace photography Blog Entries: 1	I agree with Dr. Paul on this (not about the Government playing a part in the heath care business, more about the media hype surrounding it) Yes, it is dangerous. And yes, it does suck. It isn't any MORE dangerous than TB or Meningitis.

10-24-2009, 04:50 PM	#14 (permalink)
Gigs Backroom Bureaucrat Is it wicked not to care? Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 4,735 Awards: 1	Wait, does this mean Obama is going to shut down the Internet now?

10-24-2009, 05:38 PM	#17 (permalink)
Jesse Barnett she, not he! SLU Supporter addicted to catnip Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South of DC Posts: 529 My Mood: SL Join Date: 5/21/2006	People really need to educate themselves. The H1N1 virus is a man made virus bio-engineered at Plum Island, which is the nation's only Bio-hazard Level 5 laboratory. It was specifically created by President Obama, who is really the anti-Christ, to reduce the world's population. Only a select few have been given the real immunization shot and 6 months after the world's population has been decimated, the virus will mutate once again and turn the survivors into large breasted blonds with a low IQ and amazing oral skills. __________________ Coffee smells like freshly ground heaven. ~Jessi Lane Adams

10-24-2009, 07:53 PM	#21 (permalink)
detrius Senior Member notorious subversive Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Germany Posts: 2,303 My Mood:	Speaking of the devil... I've been suffering from a slight cold with running nose and coughing for the past days which now has turned into a full-blown flu with symptoms including headache, fever, shivering, dizzyness and rheumatic pain within mere hours. Yay me! off to get myself some hot milk with honey

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Logo

Site Navigation