Obama declares swine flu emergency

AFP ^ | 10/24/09

[TigerLikesRooster]

Obama declares swine flu emergency

9 mins ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) – President Barack Obama has declared swine flu a "national emergency," the White House said Saturday, as the United States reels from millions of cases of infection and over 1,000 deaths.

[OpusatFR]

US reels from swine flu?

More propaganda.

[RaceBannon]

Onions !

Who knows, it might work

Sounds pretty simple but never tried it so don’t know....

In 1919 when the flu killed 40 million people there was this Doctor that visited the many farmers to see if he could help them combat the flu.

Many of the farmers and their family had contracted it and many died.

The doctor came upon this one farmer and to his surprise, everyone was very healthy. When the doctor asked what the farmer was doing that was different the wife replied that she had placed an unpeeled onion in a dish in the rooms of the home, (probably only two rooms back then).

The doctor couldn’t believe it and asked if he could have one of the onions and place it under the microscope. She gave him one and when he did this, he did find the flu virus in the onion. It obviously absorbed the bacteria, therefore, keeping the family healthy.

Now, I heard this story from my hairdresser in AZ. She said that several years ago many of her employees were coming down with the flu and so were many of her customers. The next year she placed several bowls with onions around in her shop. To her surprise, none of her staff got sick. It must work.. (And no, she is not in the onion business..)

The moral of the story is, buy some onions and place them in bowls around your home. If you work at a desk, place one or two in your office or under your desk or even on top somewhere. Try it and see what happens. We did it last year and we never got the flu.

If this helps you and your loved ones from getting sick, all the better. If you do get the flu, it just might be a mild case..

Whatever, what have you to lose? Just a few bucks on onions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now there is a P. S. to this for I sent it to a friend in Oregon who regularly contributes material to me on health issues. She replied with this most interesting experience about onions:

Weldon,thanks for the reminder. I don’t know about the farmers story...but, I do know that I contacted pneumonia and needless to say I was very ill....I came across an article that said to cut both ends off an onion put one end on a fork and then place the forked end into an empty jar...placing the jar next to the sick patient at night. It said the onion would be black in the morning from the germs...sure enough it happened just like that...the onion was a mess and I began to feel better.

Another thing I read in the article was that onions and garlic placed around the room saved many from the black plague years ago. They have powerful antibacterial, antiseptic properties.

[John W]

Only once we’ve evolved enough as a nation that the sheeple will either fall for that or even CALL for that. Should be about next week or so.

[traumer]

I think this is a smoke screen to pass the ‘HEALTHCARE BILL’

[penelopesire]

Yep! Obama has done NOTHING ALL SUMMER. President Bush set the table for him with a plan and some stockpiles of Tamiflu and instead of filling gaps with vaccines,anit-virals and ventilators..our money went to UNIONS,ACORN AND DEMOCRAT COFFERS FOLKS!!

[AuntB]

Obama has become the little boy who cried ‘wolf’. If he ever has something really important to tell us, no one is going to believe him.

[maggief]

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/64599-obama-declares-swine-flu-a-national-emergency

“I have authorized the Secretary of Health and Human Services to exercise the authority under section 1135 of the Social Security Act to temporarily waive or modify certain requirements of the Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children’s Health Insurance programs and of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Privacy Rule as necessary to respond to the pandemic throughout the duration of the public health emergency declared in response to the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic,” Obama wrote to Congress.

//

http://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/ssact/title11/1135.htm

AUTHORITY TO WAIVE REQUIREMENTS DURING NATIONAL EMERGENCIES

Previous Document in Collection Parent Document in Collection Next Document in Collection

Sec. 1135. [42 U.S.C. 1320b–5] (a) Purpose.—The purpose of this section is to enable the Secretary to ensure to the maximum extent feasible, in any emergency area and during an emergency period (as defined in subsection (g)(1))—

(1) that sufficient health care items and services are available to meet the needs of individuals in such area enrolled in the programs under titles XVIII, XIX, and XXI; and

(2) that health care providers (as defined in subsection (g)(2)) that furnish such items and services in good faith, but that are unable to comply with one or more requirements described in subsection (b), may be reimbursed for such items and services and exempted from sanctions for such noncompliance, absent any determination of fraud or abuse.

(b) Secretarial Authority.—To the extent necessary to accomplish the purpose specified in subsection (a), the Secretary is authorized, subject to the provisions of this section, to temporarily waive or modify the application of, with respect to health care items and services furnished by a health care provider (or classes of health care providers) in any emergency area (or portion of such an area) during any portion of an emergency period, the requirements of titles XVIII, XIX, or XXI, or any regulation thereunder (and the requirements of this title other than this section, and regulations thereunder, insofar as they relate to such titles), pertaining to—

(1)(A) conditions of participation or other certification requirements for an individual health care provider or types of providers,

(B) program participation and similar requirements for an individual health care provider or types of providers, and

(C) pre-approval requirements;

(2) requirements that physicians and other health care professionals be licensed in the State in which they provide such services, if they have equivalent licensing in another State and are not affirmatively excluded from practice in that State or in any State a part of which is included in the emergency area;

(3) actions under section 1867 (relating to examination and treatment for emergency medical conditions and women in labor) for—

(A) a transfer of an individual who has not been stabilized in violation of subsection (c) of such section if the transfer arises out of the circumstances of the emergency;

(B) the direction or relocation of an individual to receive medical screening in an alternative location—

(i) pursuant to an appropriate State emergency preparedness plan; or

(ii) in the case of a public health emergency described in subsection (g)(1)(B) that involves a pandemic infectious disease, pursuant to a State pandemic preparedness plan or a plan referred to in clause (i), whichever is applicable in the State;

(4) sanctions under section 1877(g) (relating to limitations on physician referral);

(5) deadlines and timetables for performance of required activities, except that such deadlines and timetables may only be modified, not waived;

(6) limitations on payments under section 1851(i) for health care items and services furnished to individuals enrolled in a Medicare+Choice plan by health care professionals or facilities not included under such plan; and

(7) sanctions and penalties that arise from the noncompliance with the following requirements (as promulgated under the authority of section 264(c) of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996[67] (42 U.S. C. 1320d-2 note)—

(A) section 164.510 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, relating to—

(i) requirements to obtain a patient’s agreement to speak with family members or friends; and

(ii) the requirement to honor a request to opt out of the facility directory;

(B) section 164.520 of such title, relating to the requirement to distribute a notice; or

(C) section 164.522 of such title, relating to—

(i) the patient’s right to request privacy restrictions; and

(ii) the patient’s right to request confidential communications.

Insofar as the Secretary exercises authority under paragraph (6) with respect to individuals enrolled in a Medicare+Choice plan, to the extent possible given the circumstances, the Secretary shall reconcile payments made on behalf of such enrollees to ensure that the enrollees do not pay more than would be required had they received services from providers within the network of the plan and may reconcile payments to the organization offering the plan to ensure that such organization pays for services for which payment is included in the capitation payment it receives under part C of title XVIII. A waiver or modification provided for under paragraph (3) or (7) shall only be in effect if such actions are taken in a manner that does not discriminate among individuals on the basis of their source of payment or of their ability to pay, and, except in the case of a waiver or modification to which the fifth sentence of this subsection applies, shall be limited to a 72-hour period beginning upon implementation of a hospital disaster protocal. A waiver or modification under such paragraph (7) shall be withdrawn after such period and the provider shall comply with the requirements under such paragraph for any patient still under the care of the provider. If a public health emergency described in subsection (g)(1)(B) involves a pandemic infectious disease (such as pandemic influenza), the duration of a waiver or modification under paragraph (3) shall be determined in accordance with subsection (e) as such subsection applies to public health emergencies.

(c) Authority for Retroactive Waiver.—A waiver or modification of requirements pursuant to this section may, at the Secretary’s discretion, be made retroactive to the beginning of the emergency period or any subsequent date in such period specified by the Secretary.

(d) Certification to Congress.—The Secretary shall provide a certification and advance written notice to the Congress at least two days before exercising the authority under this section with respect to an emergency area. Such a certification and notice shall include—

(1) a description of—

(A) the specific provisions that will be waived or modified;

(B) the health care providers to whom the waiver or modification will apply;

(C) the geographic area in which the waiver or modification will apply; and

(D) the period of time for which the waiver or modification will be in effect; and

(2) a certification that the waiver or modification is necessary to carry out the purpose specified in subsection (a).

(e) Duration of Waiver.—

(1) In general.—A waiver or modification of requirements pursuant to this section terminates upon—

(A) the termination of the applicable declaration of emergency or disaster described in subsection (g)(1)(A);

(B) the termination of the applicable declaration of public health emergency described in subsection (g)(1)(B); or

(C) subject to paragraph (2), the termination of a period of 60 days from the date the waiver or modification is first published (or, if applicable, the date of extension of the waiver or modification under paragraph (2)).

(2) Extension of 60-day periods.—The Secretary may, by notice, provide for an extension of a 60-day period described in paragraph (1)(C) (or an additional period provided under this paragraph) for additional period or periods (not to exceed, except as subsequently provided under this paragraph, 60 days each), but any such extension shall not affect or prevent the termination of a waiver or modification under subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1).

(f) Report to Congress.—Within one year after the end of the emergency period in an emergency area in which the Secretary exercised the authority provided under this section, the Secretary shall report to the Congress regarding the approaches used to accomplish the purposes described in subsection (a), including an evaluation of such approaches and recommendations for improved approaches should the need for such emergency authority arise in the future.

(g) Definitions.—For purposes of this section:

(1) Emergency area; emergency period.—An “emergency area” is a geographical area in which, and an “emergency period” is the period during which, there exists—

(A) an emergency or disaster declared by the President pursuant to the National Emergencies Act[68] or the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act[69]; and

(B) a public health emergency declared by the Secretary pursuant to section 319 of the Public Health Service Act.

(2) Health care provider.—The term “health care provider” means any entity that furnishes health care items or services, and includes a hospital or other provider of services, a physician or other health care practitioner or professional, a health care facility, or a supplier of health care items or services.

[67] See Vol. II, P.L. 104-191, §264(c).

[68] P.L. 94-412.

[69] P.L. 93-288.

[Jim Noble]

The swine flu has killed 5,000 over the last several months. It's far less deadly than the typical strain.

That's my impression, as well, but because of the unusual age distribution we really, really need case fatality rates to make a judgement.

Why CDC doesn't publish that data, 26 weeks into the event, is unclear.

[Aggie Mama]

I take 10K IU’s vit D/day. Just had my levels checked this week and they were great. The test was $40. I live in a sunny area, but my doctor says just about everyone is low since most of us are inside every day.

[GretchenB]

The fruitcake probably cried and wet his pants

[AmericanInTokyo]

Oh, its affecting Japan believe you me--not so sure about Thailand. All over Asia they are trying to limit the effect. They even sealed 100 people in a Hong Kong hotel for two weeks, some months back. But H1N1 has significantly progressed. It is not a severe flu, symptoms-wise. But very little panic in Japan, it is already an immensely antiseptic country to begin with, with mask wearing the norm in the fall and winter, and over-washing of hands, usage of handkerchiefs in restrooms, and the like. Very communal society so the people largely due what the health ministry suggests and orders. If they say use Purell antiseptic on your hands several times a day out in public, well then, the majority of the people will do that. (Of course, they dont have untrustworthy, agenda-laden Barack Obama as their current leader, too.) Primarily health care givers are all getting the vaccine injects here in the last few weeks, expanding to target at-risk people after that. Decision was made that one jab, rather than two visits/one jab per visit, is all that is necessary for the vaccine to take hold. That made it so the H1N1 vaccine would deploy twice as quickly. Current stats are that about 40 have died nationwide, which is heavily reported daily in Japan, often at top news. Each new death is reported individually and in detail. National Institute of Infectious Diseases estimated weekly first visit influenza patients increased 830,000 than the previous week. Average patients per medical facility were highest in Hokkaidō, 57.93 and the next, Aichi Prefecture 31.78 (near Nagoya).

[John W]

I don’t know if its really all that unclear. When a government agency doesn’t publish data that it could and should, what does that usually turn out to show us once we get the data?

[luckystarmom]

Lots of kids have been really sick at my kids’ school. One girl had a high fever (104) for a whole week. Another was out for 2 weeks (fever, cough). My 15 year old son has had had quite a few friends with high fevers. I’ve never seen this many kids this old get sick at the same time and get such high fevers.

I think though it peaked at my kids’ school about 2 weeks ago (after homecoming). The had about 20% of the kids out sick.

Of course, my son’s school has a dance coming up in a few weeks, and I wouldn’t be surprised if more kids get sick at the dance.

[penelopesire]

I have been taking 5000 IU per day for about a week. Hope it’s not too much. I plan to only do it for about 3 months and then get my levels checked. I got my information here:

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/

Then I did a little research on Vitamin D toxicity here:

http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec01/ch004/ch004k.html

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/vitaminDToxicity.shtml

Hope this helps. If any FReeper Docs think this is a bad idea, please post.

[khnyny]

Check out this thread, lots of useful info:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2278371/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2278371/posts?page=3658#3658

[maryz]

Actually you're contagious 3 - 5 days before symptoms......

So once the symptoms appear, you've probably already infected anyone susceptible in your regular circle! Seems little point in staying home once you have symptoms (if they're not too severe) to avoid spreading it! ;-)

[Safrguns]

Ahhh... well hell... just throw another trillion at it and declare it over already!!!

[RaceBannon]

[Earthdweller]

SF...everyones had it..got the sticker. Moving on.

[SaraJohnson]

They do not know the death rate because Federal labs stopped testing for swine flu back in July. So the 1% death rate is made up from no real data. It could be a far lower or far higher death rate. We don’t know - it is whatever CDC says it is based on how they want to manipulate the public.

If it is so serious, why is zero giving away 10% of our vaccines to third world nations as order by WHO? If it is so serious, why is zero keep the flu factories - public schools open? Zero is talking out of both sides of his a$$.