Breaking Alert: California Declares State Of Emergency Over Swine Flu As Two Dead In L.A.
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As outbreaks of swine flu continue to be confirmed around the world, with new cases reported today in Canada, Israel, France, New Zealand, Costa Rica and South Korea, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proclaimed a state of emergency and the White House asked Congress for an additional $1.5 billion to fight the outbreak.
(Los Angeles) – California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency Tuesday to respond to the swine flu outbreak after two fatalities in Los Angeles were being investigated for possible links to the virus.
The declaration is accompanied by a request for federal funds to cover enactment of emergency “services, materials, personnel and equipment to supplement extraordinary preventive measures being taken across the state.”
The declaration comes as President Obama requested that Congress approve $1.5 billion in supplemental funds to “enhance capability” to address the spread of the outbreak, including the development of anti-viral stocks.
California’s proclamation orders all state agencies and departments to assist the Department of Public Health and the State Emergency Plan as coordinated by the California Emergency Management Agency.
In making the declaration, Schwarzenegger announced that the state now joins the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in conducting its own testing of virus samples obtained from patients with symptoms resembling the swine flu.
Los Angeles Coroner’s spokesman Craig Harvey told the Los Angeles Times that a hospital in Bellflower, Calif., reported the death of a 33-year-old Long Beach man who was brought in Saturday with symptoms resembling swine flu. The other death was a 45-year-old La Mirada man who died April 22 at a Norwalk, Calif., hospital.
California is the first state where a case of swine flu was confirmed. The governor’s office said state health officials are working closely with the federal government and local health partners to find measures to reduce the virus’ spread and wider impact.
(AP)
The Los Angeles County coroner’s office is investigating two recent deaths for links to swine flu.
Coroner’s Capt. John Kades says tests are being run on two bodies to see if swine flu was a factor in their deaths, but there is no confirmation that the disease killed them.
The Los Angeles Times reports on its Web site that both men’s deaths were reported to the coroner’s office on Monday.
Coroner’s spokesman Craig Harvey told the paper that a Bellflower hospital reported the death of a 33-year-old Long Beach man who was brought in Saturday with symptoms resembling swine flu.
The other death was a 45-year-old La Mirada man who died April 22 at a Norwalk hospital.
The World Heath Organization has now confirmed person-to-person transmission of the swine flu virus in the United States.
The WHO said some students in New York City infected with swine flu had not traveled to Mexico and must have contracted the disease from classmates who had recently returned from a trip to the country.
That is significant because it suggests the swine flu virus that is suspected in dozens of deaths in Mexico is now strong enough to be passed among people in other countries, raising the likelihood of a flu pandemic.
There had been suspicions that the diseases was being passed from human to human outside of Mexico, but this is the first confirmation.
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