Swine Flu and "Passive Screenings"

UPDATE: U.S. set to issue travel warning to Mexico
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The U.S. is beginning "passive screenings" for swine flu at its borders.

Less than 24 hours ago, Janet Napolitano said there were no plans to initiate any screenings.

What a difference a day makes!

WASHINGTON -- Amid surging worries about a global pandemic, the United States launched border screening for swine flu exposure, the European Union advised against nonessential travel, many Asian countries closely questioned arriving visitors and Russia, China and Taiwan weighed quarantines.

The acting head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control revealed that American authorities were starting to undertake "passive screening" at its borders. Richard Vesser declared anew the Obama administration's call for people to stay calm and take precautions, and he said border officials would start "asking people about fever and illness, looking for people who are ill."

Complicating response strategies internationally was what a World Health Organization official described as difficulty experts were having in assessing precisely the nature of the threat.

"These are the early days. It's quite clear that there is a potential for this virus to become a pandemic and threaten globally," said Peter Cordingley, a WHO spokesman, who said it was spreading rapidly in Mexico and the southern United States. "But we honestly don't know. We don't know enough yet about how this virus operates. More work needs to be done."

Multiple airlines, including American, United, Continental, US Airways, Mexicana and Air Canada, said they were waiving usual penalties for changing reservations for anyone traveling to, from, or through Mexico, but have not canceled flights.

The U.S. declared a national health emergency Sunday in the midst of uncertainty about whether a mounting sick count really meant ongoing infections — or just that health officials had missed something simmering for weeks or months. But the declaration did allow Washington to ship roughly 12 million doses of flu-fighting medications from a federal stockpile to states in case they eventually need them.

President Barack Obama was set to address the health crisis later Monday in remarks to a meeting of the nation's top scientists. His administration had sought Sunday to strike a balance, informing Americans without panicking them.

Besser traveled the morning news-show circuit Monday, telling interviewers the U.S. government was being "extremely aggressive" and saying he wouldn't personally recommend traveling to parts of Mexico where the new virus has taken hold. But he noted that the issue of a travel ban was under discussion and that nothing had been decided.

"Passive screenings" doesn't sound like the U.S. is being "extremely aggressive."

Granted, panic is not helpful in dealing with a crisis; but Obama giving the nation a false sense of security is irresponsible and potentially deadly.

He really seems out of touch. What's the problem? Is he afraid that the swine flu is going to overshadow his 100 Days extravaganza?

Poor baby. You can't always get what you want.

By the way, how did Obama do on the golf course yesterday?