HARRISBURG - U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter says the country isn't adequately prepared to deal with a swine flu epidemic that has the potential to be very serious.

Specter said Monday the country spent billions of dollars in recent years to prepare. But the Pennsylvania Republican maintains that a lot more needs to be done.

While he says he does not want to be alarmist, he warned that swine flu "has the potential to be very, very devastating."