Swine Flu is a bad name-- got a better one?

[JonLP24]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Is the name swine flu hogwash?

U.S. officials said Tuesday they may abandon the term swine flu, for fear it's confusing people into thinking they could catch it from pork - which is flat-out wrong.

"We're discussing, is there a better way to describe this that would not lead to inappropriate actions on people's part?" said Dr. Richard Besser, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "In the public, we've been seeing a fair amount of misconception ... and that's not helpful."

CDC scientists discovered the never-before-seen strain of influenza, a mix of pig, human and bird viruses - and while scientifically it's part of the Type A/H1N1 family of influenza, they shortened the name to new swine flu.

Immediately, U.S. officials rushed to assure people that it's impossible to get pig strains of influenza from food. But by last weekend, China, Russia and Ukraine were banning imports of pork from Mexico and certain U.S. states, and other governments were increasing screening of pork imports.

Then came name complaints from abroad. Israeli officials on Monday suggested renaming it Mexican flu, saying the reference to pigs is offensive to Muslim and Jewish sensitivities over pork. While the biggest outbreak and most serious illness so far is in Mexico, scientists don't yet have proof that's where the new virus originated.
http://www.wbbm780.com/pages/4290130.php

[Ian David]

1. NAFTA Flu: Critics Say Swine Flu Has Roots in Forcing Poor Countries to Accept Western Agribusiness

The “NAFTA Flu”: Critics Say Swine Flu Has Roots in Forcing Poor Countries to Accept Western Agribusiness

As the US reports its first known death from the global swine flu, the World Health Organization has raised its pandemic threat level. Several countries around the world have banned the import of US and Mexican pork products. We speak to professor and author Robert Wallace, who says the swine flu is partly the outcome of neoliberal policies that forced poorer countries to open their markets to poorly regulated Western agribusiness giants.

More:
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/4/29/the_nafta_flu

[Auggie]

2. Let's name it after people, like hurricanes

The George Bush Flu, for instance.

[TheCoxwain]

3. RushLimbaugh Flu

[ixion]

4. Huswavian flu

Human + swine + avian = Huswavian. :)

[Mrs. Overall]

7. Ah, beat me to it!

Mine was Huswiavian, but I like yours better without the "i".

[sinkingfeeling]

5. Are the only people getting it pigs/hogs/swine? Then it's not swine flu.

[KittyWampus]

6. FrankenVirus (since it's such a composite of animal strains)

[bdamomma]

8. H1NI is what the CDC is saying to use, they are afraid the Pork Industry

will be hit hard, and it has been reported a person cannot get swine flu by eating pork.

[TechBear_Seattle]

9. What's wrong with "Influenza"? Or the phenomic designation, H1N1? n/t

[uppityperson]

14. I'm calling it hiney flu for the H1N1 bit.

[Faux pas]

10. Got Panic? Flu n/t

[LostinVA]

22. Seriesly -- I don't get it

[Faux pas]

11. Got Panic? Flu n/t

[Warpy]

12. Factory farming flu

Frankenflu (since it has elements from 3 species and looks like it came from the lab of a mad scientist)

Fucking flu. As in, "Oh, shit, I've got the fucking flu."

[raccoon]

13. "New, Improved, Fast-Access Flu?" nt

[Mike 03]

15. Yes: 2009 H1N1, per the CDC. NT

[Junkdrawer]

16. The WhatWarCrimes Flu...n/t

[Bucky]

17. "Gingrichitis" or the "Itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny, polka-dotted skin A/H1N1"

[itsrobert]

18. Porky's Revenge (eom)

eom

[whistler162]

19. Vegan fever has a nice ring to it!

[Mike 03]

20. Yes, 2009 H1N1. It will save the slaughter of a lot of pigs. NT

[Stinky The Clown]

21. "Terrorist Psychoflu From Hell"

[The Straight Story]

23. bush flu - been making people sick for years

:)

[Obamarama]

24. "The flu formerly known as swine"

ala Prince

[WeDidIt]

25. Tobacco Flu

If "swine flu" has been causing a drop in sales of pork products, why not use it to help out the health of everybody and cause a drop in sales of tobacco products.

[cliffordu]

The NAFTA trots

[SalmonChantedEvening]

26. Malkin Pnuemonia. n/t

[jmowreader]

27. Republican flu

Since no one except fundies, teabaggers and freepers will admit to being in the Republican Party anymore, calling it that won't offend anyone important.

[Algorem]

28. the hammy whammy

the pork chop of death

[Agent William]

29. Corporate sponsorship? Pepsi, Swine Flu, anyone?

[Forkboy]

30. I liked "Bacon's Revenge" from Lioness.

:rofl:

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

31. Enhanced Cooties