Obama Declares H1N1 Pandemic National Emergency: Blacks still disproportionately affected by virus.

In a preemptive move President Barack Obama declared the H1N1 influenza pandemic a nation emergency allowing treatment to be more easily available to the population.

"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," said President Obama in a statement released by the White House.

The declaration authorizes Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to bypass federal rules when opening offsite hospital centers and allows hospitals to modify patient admit rules to allow them faster access to treatment, with government approval.

"The potential exists for the pandemic to overburden healthcare resources in some localities," the proclamation said. "Thus, in recognition of the continuing progression of the pandemic, and in further preparation as a nation, we are taking additional steps to facilitate our response."

Sebelius is also able to temporarily waive or modify requirements of Medicare, Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance programs under the declaration on a case-by-case basis.

Obama’s move comes as more than 1,000 people in the United States, 100 of which are children, have died from the H1N1 flu, 46 states have widespread flu activity and only 11 million vaccines doses have gone out to healthcare providers, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Also, Lyn Finelli, PhD, head of surveillance for the CDC's Influenza Division, confirmed initial reports from Chicago, Boston and Oklahoma showing blacks and Hispanics are disproportionately affected by the H1N1 virus during a meeting with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

“While the number of deaths in Hispanic people has fallen, since September the rate has risen among African Americans,” Finelli said.

The CDC has yet to release the racial breakdown of the more than 1,000 U.S. deaths.

The Obama administration has been taking steps to address the increasing concern surrounding the spread of the H1N1 virus.  Sebelius initially declared the swine flu a "public health emergency" in April, and renewed the declaration in July and again Oct. 1.