Apparently our state legislature wants to step in, and tell the public and the media what we should call the latest flu virus that’s circulating the globe. Here’s a story from the Associated Press today:
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin state representative doesn’t want swine flu to be called swine flu.
Democratic state Rep. Phil Garthwaite of Dickeyville is sponsoring a nonbinding resolution asking state agencies and the media to call the virus “2009 H1N1 Influenza.” It is scheduled to be voted on Thursday by the Assembly.
Numerous state and federal government officials, along with the pork industry, have asked that the flu virus be called H1N1.
Garthwaite says calling the virus swine flu can make people afraid of eating pork products even though there is no risk.
The Associated Press is referring to the virus as swine flu because experts say it began in pigs and most of its genetic makeup is from pig viruses, although there are human and bird genes, too.
We don’t really have a clear-cut rule here…but in stories, we’ve been saying things like, “the H1N1 virus — commonly referred to as the Swine Flu…”
I’m curious to get your thoughts on this. The Associated Press is exactly right…experts do say that the virus began in pigs, and most of its genetic makeup is swine related. But…again…there are human and bird genes in the virus, too.
What do you think? Leave me a comment, or drop me a line at goodquestion@channel3000.com.
I find it interesting that these people have nothing better to do than decide what you can and/or cannot call this flu! It seems to me that this is a supreme waste of valuable time that should be spent doing meaningful things and not wasted on what to call a flu. People will call it whatever they will call it and the mere fact that it may (or may not) have an adverse affect on the pork producers is not reason enough to spend time on this in the legislature.
I might be a little late, but the Swine Flu Epidemic is a serious issue that has affected both seniors and children alike. to call it swine flu is just a gimmick for them to market how serious this epidemic is.
Kathy Johnson
Home Care Assistance