Should swine flu get a new name?
- Published: 30/04/2009 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: News
What to call the new strain of flu raising alarm around the world has taken on political, economic and diplomatic overtones.
Pork producers question whether the term "swine flu" is appropriate, given that pigs so far do not seem to be falling ill.
Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said using the word "swine" would lead to consumers avoiding pork. Some people in Thailand have started referring to the disease as "Mexican flu".
The US is reviewing whether to change the name, complaining that a slew of countries were misguidedly banning pork imports from North America.
"This is not a food-borne crisis," US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. "It's important to not refer to swine flu. It's important to convey the message that consuming pork will not cause this illness. We're concerned about safety, but also about the impact on the economy."
The Paris-based World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) said the virus was not swine flu.
"The virus has not been isolated in animals to date. Therefore, it is not justified to name this disease swine flu," the OIE said.
The virus "includes in its characteristics swine, avian and human virus components", the OIE said, and urged that it be called "North American influenza", after its geographic origin.
About the author
- Writer: BANGKOK POST and AGENCIES
