2009-10-27
President
Barack Obama declared the swine flu outbreak a national emergency, giving his
health chief the power to let hospitals move emergency rooms off-site to speed
treatment and protect non-infected 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 strain of flu known as H1N1, and 46 states have widespread flu
activity. So far only 11 million doses have gone out to health departments,
doctors' offices, and other providers, according to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) officials.
ASH provides the latest guidance and links to
resources for clinicians about the H1N1 virus on its Web Site, including
information from the CDC, new Medicare guidance
regarding coverage and reimbursement rules, and patient education materials.
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