Swine flu outbreak a ‘concern’ not alarm: Obama

September 1st, 2009 Obama says Americans should get swine flu vaccineWASHINGTON — With a potentially deadly swine flu outbreak looming, President Barack Obama is urging Americans to take steps to prevent infection. Obama was briefed Tuesday on the nation's preparedness for swine flu by senior officials, including Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Homeland Security Janet Napolitano.

June 11th, 2009 CDC: Swine flu pandemic level won't change effortsATLANTA — U.S. health officials say they won't need to change their response now that swine flu has been declared a pandemic.

May 14th, 2009 MEXICO CITY - The toll in Mexico's swine flu outbreak has risen to 60, Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova Villalobos said. A total of 2,386 people have been infected with the influenza A(H1N1) virus, also called swine flu.

May 4th, 2009 MEXICO CITY - The Mexican government has said the swine flu outbreak has peaked in the country and is now in decline, with a confirmed human death toll of 22. Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova told reporters Sunday: 'The evolution of the epidemic is now in a phase of decline.' According to the latest data, 22 people have died of swine flu and 578 people have been infected with the virus.

April 30th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama has said that there were no plans to close the country's border with Mexico despite a growing swine flu outbreak, but assured the public that his government was doing all it could to contain the threat. Obama said late Wednesday that closing the border was 'akin to closing the barn door after the horses are out', as there were already nearly 100 cases confirmed in the US, including one death.

April 28th, 2009 Official: Some in US deaths likely from fluWASHINGTON — Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is warning that more severe illnesses and some deaths are likely in the United States from the current swine flu outbreak. At a daily briefing on the government's response to the outbreak, Napolitano also said the virus could subside this summer and return in the fall when the normal flu season begins.

April 28th, 2009 White House asks lawmakers for $1.5b for fluWASHINGTON — The White House is asking Congress for $1.5 billion to fight a swine flu outbreak. President Barack Obama sent a letter to lawmakers on Tuesday, asking them for a supplemental spending plan to build drug stockpiles and monitor future cases.

April 28th, 2009 Obama team offers calm, experts for swine fluWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama responded to the first domestic emergency of his presidency by urging calm — and then dispatching officials to the cameras to again urge Americans to be calm. Obama said the emerging swine flu outbreak was "not a cause for alarm," even as the government began urgent steps to respond to the small but rising number of cases.

April 28th, 2009 Swine flu has Caterpillar restrict Mexican travelPEORIA, Ill. — Heavy equipment maker Caterpillar Inc.

April 27th, 2009 House panel to probe swine flu outbreakWASHINGTON — A House committee will hold an emergency hearing this week on increasing cases of swine flu in the United States and other countries. Health subcommittee Chairman Frank Pallone Jr., said Monday that his session will address the public's concern over a potential outbreak and make sure that government agencies are coordinating to protect people as efficiently as possible.

April 26th, 2009 World Bank gives aid to Mexico for swine fluWASHINGTON — The World Bank said Sunday that it is providing Mexico with more than $200 million in loans to help it deal with an outbreak of a new strain of swine flu. Mexican health officials say swine flu has killed up to 86 people and probably sickened about 1,400 in the country since April 13.

April 26th, 2009 White House to detail govt response to swine fluWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has received regular briefings from advisers on the swine flu outbreak and the White House readied guidance for Americans. The Obama administration planned a Sunday afternoon briefing to outline the government's response.

April 25th, 2009 WHO chief to oversee handling of swine flu crisisGENEVA — The head of the World Health Organization arrived in Geneva on Saturday to oversee the agency's handling of the swine flu outbreak that is believed to have killed dozens of people in Mexico. Margaret Chan broke off a visit to Washington to return to WHO's Strategic Health Operation Center in Switzerland, where she was being briefed before an emergency committee meeting later Saturday to consider whether to raise the pandemic alert level or issue travel advisories, spokesman Gregory Hartl said.

April 25th, 2009 Mexico may isolate flu patients, inspect homesMEXICO CITY — The Mexican government has issued a special decree clarifying Health Department powers to isolate patients and to inspect homes, incoming travelers and baggage to curb an outbreak of swine flu. Officials say the decree gives clear legal authority to health department workers who might otherwise face lawsuits.

April 25th, 2009 Obama health fine after trip to MexicoWASHINGTON — The White House says President Barack Obama's health is fine a little more than a week after he traveled to Mexico, where an outbreak of swine flu has killed at least 68 people and sickened more than 1,000. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Saturday that "the President’s trip to Mexico has not put his health in any danger." The top international health official says the new swine flu strain that has hit Mexico has "pandemic potential." Obama was in Mexico last week to meet with top government officials and talk about the growing problem with drug smuggling and border violence.