Swine flu or influenza A(H1N1)?

Posted by Marcus Wright on May 01, 2009
Health, Swine Flu

European newspapers have mostly shrugged off the World Health Organization’s decision to stop referring to “swine flu” and switch to using the virus’ scientific name, influenza A(H1N1). A quick scan of today’s papers shows copious and continued references to swine flu, pig flu, grippe porcine, Schweinegrippe and other variations. The WHO’s fellow UN body, the Food and Agriculture Organization, justifies the name switch by noting that there is currently no evidence that the new virus “is circulating in pigs in Mexico or anywhere else in the world” and because “consumption of pig meat does not bring any increased risk to the consumer.”  But it seems unlikely that newspaper headline writers will find the scientific name for the new flu virus as appealing as the pithier porcine version.

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1 Comment to Swine flu or influenza A(H1N1)?

F Pait
May 1, 2009

Hate to second senator Grassley’s unkosher comments, but there are some good sales on pork in the supermarket….

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