Obama declares swine flu national emergency

U.S. President Barack Obama has signed a proclamation declaring the swine flu outbreak a national emergency, the White House said Saturday.

Obama signed a proclamation that would allow medical officials to bypass certain federal requirements. Officials described the move as similar to a declaration ahead of a hurricane making landfall.

"The foundation of our national approach to the H1N1 flu has been preparedness at all levels — personal, business, and government — and this proclamation helps that effort by advancing our overall response capability," the White House said in a release.

Swine flu is more widespread now than it has ever been and has resulted in more than 1,000 U.S. deaths so far.

Health authorities say almost 100 children have died from the flu, known as H1N1, and 46 states now have widespread flu activity.

The White House said Obama signed the declaration on Friday evening.

Earlier Friday, Canada's health minister said the country had officially entered the second wave of the H1N1 flu pandemic.

Since last week, three more swine flu deaths have been reported in Canada, bringing the total number of fatalities to 86, Leona Aglukkaq said.