In Weekly Address, Obama Urges Americans To Be Calm But Cautious Over Flu Virus

3 years ago

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In his weekly radio and internet address, President Obama outlines the government's response to the H1N1 flu virus (the infection formerly known as swine flu). The president acknowledges that while the strain in the U.S. isn't as strong as the one in Mexico, Americans need to be cautious in case the virus spreads quickly or becomes more potent. Obama has called on the Strategic National Stockpile to distribute antiviral treatments and has requested $1.5 billion from Congress to invest in additional antivirals, emergency equipment and the development of a vaccine.

This is also why the Centers for Disease Control has recommended that schools and child care facilities with confirmed cases of the virus close for up to fourteen days. It is why we urge employers to allow infected employees to take as many sick days as necessary. If more schools are forced to close, we've also recommended that both parents and businesses think about contingency plans if children do have to stay home. We have asked every American to take the same steps you would take to prevent any other flu: keep your hands washed; cover your mouth when you cough; stay home from work if you're sick; and keep your children home from school if they're sick. And the White House has launched pages in Facebook, MySpace and Twitter to support the ongoing efforts by the CDC to update the public as quickly and effectively as possible.

Watch the full address:

Click here for a transcript.

Filed Under: Barack Obama, Media, Health Care, Videos of the Week, Obama Administration

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