Swine Flu, H1N1, Mexican Flu, North American Flu
The term used to describe the swine flu (Mexican Flu, H1N1 Influenza A, North American Flu) outbreak has become controversial.
The original, and colloquial name, “swine flu” has run into objections from pork producers who say that it spreads fear about eating pork. You can’t get swine flu from eating pork.
Fiona Fleck, a spokeswoman for the World Health Organization explained to the New York Times on Wednesday that the World Health Organization would start using the term “influenza A(H1N1)”
In Canada both CP24 and CTV has started using the term H1N1 flu. The CBC continues to use the term swine flu, because the term “H1N1 Influenza A” is a lot put in a script, “but more importantly, at least one infectious disease expert we consulted says it is inaccurate,” a CBC producer said.
The WHO take a different stance on the issue. “We’re a scientific organization. A(H1N1) is a scientific name. That’s it. But the scientific name is not very user friendly. I think it would help all of us if we could find a name that’s easier to say that’s more popular.”
Fleck suggested there could be a competition, and members of the public could come up with a better name.
Swine Flu naming contest anyone?
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Most CBC Radio-Canada employees have probably never heard of CP24. It is a local Toronto station. Stop assuming everyone at CBC lives in Toronto. Most CBCers don’t. Also Radio-Canada is calling it H1N1. So much for one CBC.
CP24 is available beyond the Toronto region. It’s available on the DBS services, namely Star Choice and Bell Expressvu.
Why would R-C do that? “Grippe porcine” is far superior.
There was also a complaint from the Israeli deputy health minister Yakov Litzman (fun fact, there is currently no Israeli health minister, just a deputy) that the name “swine flu” was insensitive to Jews and Muslims, asking that it be changed to “mexican flu” instead. He was politely ignored, except by the Mexican government, who protested.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ieHZRubAS3lyjn2GBiCPkXkHrXwwD97QROAG0
How about “swine flu”?
Swine flu is not inaccurate. Pork producers can’t just demand we call something by a different name because it might affect their profit margins.
I might have more sympathy if it was called “pork flu”, but it’s not. It’s called swine flu because it comes from swine.
Don’t let the pork industry dictate how we communicate, especially about things that may be important to public health.
A number of people in Latin America are calling it NAFTA Flu in recognition of the assumption that it would not likely exist had it not been so easy to set up largely under-regulated food processing plants in the region.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/05/01/f-vp-enkin.html
A quote from the above link by Esther Enkin, the CBC’s executive editor of news operations, on why the CBC has decided to continue using the term swine flu:
“In such an anxious and emotional time, our goal is to be as clear as possible in our broadcasts and publications. We think our audiences will understand the term (swine flu), which we have been using for the past week.
At this stage, it seems very confusing to change the name.”
how ’bout….
the “bullshit” flu…..the “fear-mongering” flu….the ‘this is not really news” flu….the ‘we report what we are told flu”
…..the “maybe this is overkill” flu …..the “we have no idea what we are talking about but we feel compelled to keep monopolizing the airwaves” flu….the ‘what better way to control the world population” flu…the “this looks just like the last hoax in 1976″ flu….the “vaccine will kill you before the actual flu” flu…….the ‘thank goodness people are ignorant and gullible” flu
NAFTA Flu.