Obama Budget: Spending Increase to Fight Swine Flu

The Obama 2010 budget includes an increase of $584 million to fight swine flu, over and above the $1.5 billion in supplemental resources Obama has already allocated.

Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, said in a press briefing that the swine flu outbreak in the United States was clearly milder than the outbreak in Mexico. However, she said the increased funding was needed to ensure the nation was “well prepared if this flu comes roaring back in the regular flu season in the fall and winter.”

There have been instances in the past where an influenza virus strain proves relatively mild the first time, but then returns with a vengeance the following flu season.