Obama Urges Swine Flu Precautions

The President called on Americans to take common-sense steps to help contain the expected impact of swine flu, including staying home when they are sick, frequently washing hands, and covering sneezes with a sleeve instead of a hand.

Noting that the federal government is taking a coordinated approach to fighting the expected outbreak, the President detailed plans to ramp up what he says will be a "voluntary but strongly recommended" H1N1 flu vaccination program.

Officials note that the president is receiving regular briefings on the flu pandemic, including one from Cabinet members and other top officials. According to the White House, the President asked officials to "spare no effort in addressing this national security challenge."

The President's Council of Advisers on Science and Technology warned that half of Americans could be infected with the virus and as many as 90,000 could die -- more than double the typical death toll from seasonal flu.

The H1N1 virus brushed the United States this spring, and health officials expect a stronger impact this fall and winter. The medical community could be overwhelmed by the outbreak, which could lead to as many as 1.8 million patients being hospitalized in the United States, according to the planning scenario. Obama said steady progress is being made on developing a swine flu vaccine and that a huge inoculation program "will begin soon."