(CNN) – The H1N1 virus commonly known as 'swine flu' has hit Capitol Hill.
Rep. Greg Walden, a Republican from Oregon, tweeted Monday evening a doctor diagnosed him with the virus and is heading off to "seclusion for a while."
Andrew Whelan, Walden's press secretary, confirmed to CNN the congressman has fallen victim to swine flu and is following his doctor's orders to "get some rest and take it easy."
Walden appears to be the first member of Congress to come down with H1N1, though other representatives have said their children have contracted the virus.
CNN's Deirdre Walsh contributed to this report
From CNN Politics
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Lucky for him he has a good healthcare plan. Now wouldn't it be nice if he thought that should have access.
So, the congressman could go to a doctor, eh? Good for him! Now allow everyone to have that opportunity–pass Health Care NOW!
GOOD! Now maybe they will do something about it. It's too late for my son's friend who died this morning from it, he was only 18 years old.
But no worries, he is fortunate enough to HAVE health care insurance. 14,000 people lose their coverage on a daily basis. Of the lucky ones that have coverage, if you or a family member don't have a pre-existing condition now, you will.
This is not just worrisome – this is an emergency crisis.
Make him the poster boy for his own Free Government Run Health Care Policy.
I'm a DEM so I do hope he gets well soon. No matter what he votes for.
If the doctors in the rest of the nation are not testing for H1N1 unless a person is admitted to the hospital then how does he know he has H1N1? He is not in the hospital. People at their level get the test for H1N1 but I guess us at JOE citizen level don't. Another example of the unbalance of health care in this country?
At least he doesn't have to worry about losing his job if he is out with N1H1 for a week or more.
I bet the Congressman is enjoying his government run health care. Something we Americans need to control the corrupt insurance companies.
At least he has health insurance so he can see his doctor. That's more than I can say. We don't have health insurance. We don't go to the doctor. Still waiting to get that coverage that "congress gives themselves." Sigh.
Hope you get better fast...drink lots of chicken soup
The Republicans complain about socialism while they line up for their free, taxpayer funded premium healthcare. They all have a pre-existing conditions. Most are greedy, selfish, hypocritical and just plain stupid. They always forget ... "We the People".
I figured that Congress is where the Swine flu started ....seems to me most have been infected for a long time.....
And this guy gets the best of medical care AND gets to take unlimited time off his job without losing a penny of HIS paycheck and not even receiving a bill from his doctor!!!!! And to top it all off he gets tons of money from the insurance lobby to make sure that that those of us who pay for his health care and his paycheck never have the same opportunity. May he suffer long and hard along with the hate filled mindless cretins that voted him into office.
This may turn out to be a seriously interesting and/or revealing flu season. may everyone learn to wash, wash, wash for the good of all. may those who clean the Commons do a very good job. And finally may we all find our way to Health before we are outdone by Mother Nature. Get well all you sick ones, Please! Peace, Love and hand Sanitizer!
Good thing he got the swine flu instead of me or my family!! He has medical insurance and we don't. At least he gets free SOCIALIZED medical care courtesy of the American taxpayer. Maybe when he gets better he will realize how lucky he is compared to millions of Americans who have no health care coverage. If my family gets sick, we will just have to die of our illnesses. I think he should thank us for giving him his SOCIALIZED medicine by voting for Obama's health care reform!! It is the least he can do. The only way we can get health care is to be a politician on the state or federal level or be in the military. They get SOCIALIZED medical care and we don't.
I guess it's a good thing (for him) that he has the best health insurance available, at no cost to him, unlike a large percentage of us regular working stiffs! If I'm not mistaken he gets that for the rest of his life, again at no cost to him.
Maybe if the doctor would give a note to all Republicans and send them home to rest then we could get a health care bill passed and even let Republicans be covered too.
Wow, look at all the compassion from the liberals. Hypocrites.
A guy falls in and you use it as an excuse to launch a personal attack. Whatever happened to a simple "get well soon"? Has this country degenerated into a society of hatred and spite?
Either way, the flu isn't fun regardless of strain. To a speedy recovery!
I can't believe you people. This man is sick and all you can do is trash him. This is what's wrong with this country. We should all work together and get this health care passed. Everybody should have health insurance. More people would be going to the doctor sooner and this epidemic wouldn't get out of hand.
Why are you thrashing his health care? He is employed and his employer supplies it. I have a business and I supply my employees with insurance.
He'd make a good guinea pig for the vaccine.
It is a sure bet that his insurance will cover his medical condition. If he had a cold before, is that a preexisting condition?
Government employees DO NOT have government insurance. They have private insurance, usually BCBS or UHC. The cost comes out of their pay check just like everyone else who has employeer provided health insurance.
And it's just the flu for crying out loud. Nobody is going bankrupt because of the flu.
He'll be fine.
No matter what party you are from, you have to wish this man a get well soon wish. I hope he is well and back on his feet to serve his community. I am an Independent/ Conservative Democrat wishing him a speedy and robust recovery. People just because you are from a different party does not mean that you have to attack the oppisite side all the time.
PS: We are all Americans, all 307 million of us. Healthcare affects everyone from every side of the isle. Healhcare is an American issue and a moral issue to possibly saving a human life.
All people who love money more than a human life deserves to burn in Hell forever, as far as I am concerned. That includes you Wall Street. CNN, post this!