Swine flu prompts California "state of emergency"

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday declared a "state of emergency" for the state over an outbreak of the swine flu that has killed 149 people in Mexico.

So far state and local officials have confirmed 13 cases of the swine flu in California. None has been fatal, although Los Angeles County Coroner's officials were investigating two deaths as possibly related to the disease.

Schwarzenegger's proclamation allows the state to deploy additional resources to the Department of Public Health and more quickly and easily purchase equipment and materials.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano declared a federal public health emergency on Sunday.

(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb, editing by Patricia Zengerle)