WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. is declaring a public health emergency to deal with the emerging new swine flu.

The precautionary step doesn’t signal a greater threat to Americans. But it allows the federal and state governments easier access to flu tests and medications.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napilotano says roughly 12 million doses of the drug Tamiflu are being released from a federal stockpile so that states can get it if needed.

Travelers entering the U.S. from areas with confirmed swine flu cases will be asked about any illness they may have.

Passengers won’t be barred from getting into the United States. But they could be referred for further testing.

Napolitano characterized the step as more “passive surveillance,” saying airline workers certainly could tell people they shouldn’t fly if ill.

Napilotano said at a White House news conference Sunday that the emergency declaration is standard operating procedure, one was recently declare for the inauguration and for flooding.

Tamiflu (Oseltamivir Phosphate) – is an oral anti-viral drug for the treatment of uncomplicated influenza in patients one year and older whose flu symptoms have not lasted more than two days. This product is approved to treat Type A and B influenza; however, the majority of patients included in the studies were infected with type A, the most common in the U.S. Efficacy of Tamiflu in the treatment of influenza in subjects with chronic cardiac disease and/or respiratory disease has not been established.

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