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Oct 24, 2009, 19:48 GMT

Obama declares swine flu national emergency

Washington - US President Obama has declared swine flu a national emergency, freeing up the country's medical infrastructure for treatment of the expected wave of illness, the White House said Saturday. The declaration, signed Friday, comes as drug companies struggle to keep up with demand for vaccinations against the H1N1 virus, as swine flu is officially known. The vaccine is even scarce for the priority groups of children and pregnant women who are most vulnerable to the virus. 'The foundation of our national approach to the H1N1 flu has been preparedness at all levels personal, business, and government - and this proclamation helps that effort by advancing our overall response capability,' the White House said in a statement. The flu, a newly-emerging virus which started in April in Mexico and has spread worldwide, claimed 292 lives in the US from September 1 to October 10. In a reverse of normal seasonal flues, people under age 25 are especially vulnerable. Normally, those 65 and older are the most vulnerable.

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