Sarah Palin in 2012: What's in a Name? U.S. officials want 'swine' out of flu name ...

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

What's in a Name? U.S. officials want 'swine' out of flu name ...

by Janet Crain
Just like toxic assets became legacy trusts with the stroke of a pen, and terrorist attacks became man made disasters, the government is trying to prevent fear of this flu by calling it "H1N1 virus."

I tell you what would make feel better; calling Janet Napolitano yesterday's news, the former Homeland Security Secretary. But that is not likely. Obama is running out of people who at least made a good faith effort to pay their taxes and stay out of jail for other reasons.

I think the government will soon be called dead just resting in this new age of euphemisms. "H1N1 virus" won't be as funny, but I guess we can pronounce it hinny flu. Jay Leno should get some yuks out of that.

28 Apr 2009 21:31:42 GMT

WASHINGTON, April 28 (Reuters) - What's in a name? U.S. pork producers are finding that the name of the virus spreading from Mexico is affecting their business, prompting U.S. officials to argue for changing the name from swine flu.

At a news briefing, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack took pains to repeatedly refer to the flu as the "H1N1 virus."

"This is not a food-borne illness, virus. It is not correct to refer to it as swine flu because really that's not what this is about," Vilsack said.

Israel has already rejected the name swine flu, and opted to call it "Mexico flu." Jewish dietary laws forbid eating pork.

The Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health also objected to the name, saying the virus contains avian and human components and no pig so far has been found ill with the disease.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N28343516.htm