CDC Activates Emergency Operations for H1N1 Swine Flu Pandemic

Acting CDC Director Richard Besser activated the agency's Emergency Operations Center on April 22, 2009 and HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius declared a public health emergency on April 26 after CDC confirmed novel H1N1 influenza in two southern California children. CDC released 25% of the Strategic National Stockpile's antivirals, and on April 30 HHS announced purchase of 13 million additional treatment courses. From April 2009 to April 2010 CDC estimated 60.8 million U.S. cases, 274,304 hospitalizations, and 12,469 deaths from the pandemic.