Washington ? President Barack Obama on Saturday declared the swine flu outbreak a national emergency, a procedural step designed to allow health-care providers to speed treatment and slow the spread of the disease.

The action gives Kathleen Sebelius, Health and Human Services secretary, temporary authority to grant waivers that would expedite steps such as setting up off-site emergency rooms to treat potential flu victims apart from other patients.

Administration officials said the move was not made because of any particularly troubling development, but as a pre-emptive measure to ensure that the tools for a quick response are in place.

“The potential exists for the pandemic to overburden health care resources in some localities,” the White House 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.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 46 states have reported widespread activity of the swine flu, also known as H1N1. Since the outbreak of the pandemic in April, there have been more than 20,000 hospitalizations from laboratory-confirmed infections and more than 1,000 deaths.

The declaration is the second step in the government’s response effort. In late April, HHS declared a public health emergency, which allowed the government to release antiviral medications from federal stockpiles to states that might need them.

The national emergency declaration allows Sebelius, on a case-by-case basis, to waive federal rules governing routine medical operations if requested by doctors or hospitals.