The Hill’s Blog Briefing Room » Napolitano declares public health emergency

The Hill’s Blog Briefing Room » Napolitano declares public health emergency: "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."