Publican receives an e-mail... from President Obama!

Julian Taylor checks the e-mail on his mobile phone

President responds to theories on swine flu

A Saddleworth pub landlord has received a response from President Barack Obama after raising concerns over the swine flu virus.

Father-of-four Julian Taylor sent an e-mail directly to the president outlining his theories on how the virus could have started and spread to America.

Days later, he received a response from the president’s office, bearing the White House address in Washington.

Mr Taylor (41), who has been innkeeper at the Church Inn, Uppermill, for more than 15 years, said: “I was staggered to receive a response just a few days after I had e-mailed President Obama.

“And who would have thought the e-mail would have been addressed from the president himself directly to me?”

In his note to the president, Mr Taylor speculated that the current Western Europe flu virus could have been carried by a UK visitor to Mexico, and mutated into the new swine flu virus.

“It was only a theory,” he said. “But I do believe someone from Britain, for example, going on holiday to Mexico may have carried our flu virus into the country for it to return in a new form — but it was only an idea.”

In his response, President Obama said he planned to use e-mails sent from the public to his government’s weblink as a way of directly communicating and updating health care reform.

The note said: “The vice-president and I just met with leaders from the House of Representatives and received their commitment to pass a comprehensive health care reform bill by July 31.

“We also have an unprecedented commitment from health care industry leaders, many of whom opposed health care reform in the past.”

The note said the aim was to reduce the growth rate on health-care spending, saving more than $2 trillion in the next 10 years. There had been a meeting at the White House with America’s top companies showcasing innovative ways to reduce health care costs by improving the health of their workers.

Mr Taylor said: “Although the president didn’t address the specific issues on swine flu, I reckon it would have taken me a lot longer to have received any response from our own Government. I was really surprised when his note appeared on my e-mail.

“It has also given me a real insight into the way Americans examine and evaluate important health issues involving their people.”