State of emergency declared in New York over H1N1

Gov. David Paterson (D-New York) has declared a state of emergency due to the rise of swine flu cases. The release of the executive order suspends state law and allows more health care professionals to administer vaccines.

The AP reported that New York Gov. David Paterson has "declared a state of emergency because of the rise in swine flu cases." The executive order released by Patterson allows more health care professionals to administer vaccines after getting only brief training. Dentists are included. The executive order was required in order to suspend provisions of state law. According to the AP, the executive order "says at least 75 deaths in the state have been attributed to the swine flu." Officials in the state indicate that the number of vaccine doses is being increased. Due to the federal government's making more vaccine doses available, New York is ordering twice as many doses as a week ago. This trend is expected to continue.