Obama requests $1.5 billion to fight swine flu
Coverage of the swine flu outbreak is ubiquitous Tuesday, with many media outlets running multiple stories on different aspects of the ailment and its effects. ABC World News (4/28, lead story, 2:45, Gibson) reports that a “White House request for $1.5 billion to fight swine flu underscores just how seriously they are taking this threat.” According to White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, the funds will be used for “supplementing antiviral stockpiles, developing a vaccine, supporting the monitoring, diagnostic and public health response capabilities and assisting international efforts to stem this outbreak.”
After two cases of swine flu were confirmed in California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) “declared a statewide health emergency,” according to NBC Nightly News (4/28, lead story, 3:10, Williams). In the US, six states, including California, New York, Indiana, Texas, Ohio, and Kansas have confirmed cases. Acting CDC Director Dr. Richard Besser said, “I suspect that we will see deaths in this country.”
The New York Times (4/29, A11, Robbins, McNeil) reports that “state and federal officials intensified their response to the swine flu outbreak on Tuesday.” In a Senate Appropriations health subcommittee hearing Tuesday, Rear Adm. Anne Schuchat, the CDC’s interim science and public health deputy director, said, “I really think we need to be prepared for the worsening of the situation. … It’s more of a marathon than a sprint.”
According to the Los Angeles Times (4/29, Maugh), officials in the US and elsewhere “are holding their breath to see whether the virus’ spread will turn into something more severe or, as many hope, peter out.” Still, “they are responding aggressively.” In a letter to Congress, President Obama “asked for the $1.5 billion with ‘maximum flexibility to allow us to address this emerging situation.’ The letter said the money could go toward stockpiling antiviral medicine, vaccine development, disease monitoring and diagnosis, and assisting international efforts to limit the spread of swine flu.”
Reuters (4/29, Quinn) and CongressDaily (4/29, Sanders) also cover the story, as did the Washington Post (4/28, Pershing) in its Capitol Briefing blog.
No Comments Yet