Napolitano declares public health emergency

The Hill ^

[Sub-Driver]

Napolitano declares public health emergency @ 1:01 pm by Eric Zimmermann

The United States will declare the swine flu outbreak a public health emergency, Homeland Security Director Janet Napolitano said today.

Speaking at a White House press briefing, Napolitano said the declaration is not as severe it sounds.

"It allows us to free up state and local resources" that otherwise would not be available, Napolitano said.

The declaration does not necessarily convey the authority to initiate quarantines.

"We're nowhere near that kind of decision," Napolitano said.

Also at the briefing, the Director of the Center for Disease Control, Richard Besser, warned that there will likely be more cases of the swine flu detected in the U.S., adding those cases will grow more severe.

[Blogger]

Yes. What’s up with that?

[4Speed]

The White House Swine declares a “Swine Flu” emergency ?

[hsmomx3]

I thought he was out golfing or something.

[NRA2BFree]

They looked incompetent..

That's because they are!

[marsh2]

Once the government issues quarantine notices, it becomes responsible for providing for the needs of that population - food, medicine etc. It becomes a huge deal to figure out the logistics of getting appropriate supplies directly to every household under quarantine.

Pandemic strategies are generally to isolate exposed populations. Because of Mexico’s apparent delay in letting the US know what was happening and the human to human passage of this virus, this may have spread beyond the point where it can be effectively isolated.

[Sub-Driver]

Well what’s funny or maybe not. All these officials were at the White House and Uhbama was out golfing.......

[BOBTHENAILER]

Only non-spanish speaking, Christian, anti-abortion, Constitutionalists, gun owning, veteran, right winged extremist whites will be quarantined. Illegals and everyone else get a free pass. P.C. will kill us.

Fixed it fer ya.

[servantboy777]

>>It’s a step towards BO declaring martial law. You know, to “protect” everyone.<<

If not martial law, some sort of action very close or similar to test peoples reaction to such a move.

This all sounds like that book, “State of Fear” or another book written years ago touching on the government always keeping the citizens off balance....always in a state of fear.

[manapua]

As I understand it, you are correct. This sort of declaration is HHS’ turf. Napolitano doesn’t have this authority as far as I know.

[Miss Didi]

Meanwhile, Barry is golfing.

[devolve]

[Jay Redhawk]

It is curious that Hillary was in Mexico just two or three weeks ago and now we have the creation, or attempted creation, of a panic. This could work to Calderon's benefit if he can use the perceived crisis to declare martial law and destroy the drug cartels. The boy fascist might also find some way to further his desires for governmental control here in the United States. National healthcare anyone? Given the condition of Mexico, I would bet dozens of people die every day of illnesses and infections that would easily be controlled with just minor care and over the counter medicines. Right now, I am not convinced that the administration is playing straight with us. Any administration that is willing to take advantage of a “good crisis” is more than capable of creating one.

[lainie]

You mean when they've all stopped talking because they've left, taking shelter in sealed & secure undisclosed locations? I don't know. I think they'll sound smarter then.

[PLD]

All I know is he is never around..I really don’t think him and his family live in the white house I think they just have their Wednesday night parties there..I think he lives on “Air Force One”

[South40]

The fall of the great empire continues aided by the enemy within.

[CindyDawg]

You noticed that too?

[penelopesire]

Obama is playing GOLF today! Wonder what the press would say if George Bush did that in the middle of a possible pandemic?

[khnyny]

If you listened to the news conference closely the following was said and is now a headline on Drudge (with no story) This is really the line of the day:

NAPOLITANO SAYS USA SHOULD SHOULD PREPARE FOR NEW FLU OUTBREAK SOON EVEN IF THIS ONE FIZZLES OUT...

[P-Marlowe]

Since when is Janet Napolitano the Secretary of the Health and Human Services Department?

Did I miss something?

[kc8ukw]

And with an... Air Force golf cart? Wonder what sort of missions that gets deployed for.