Article: " Don't call it 'swine flu,' farmers implore"

[beforewisdom]

Don't call it 'swine flu,' farmers implore

Hog farmers, already hurting from the recession, say paranoia about the H1N1 virus has devastated their business.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-pigs-flu5-2009dec05,1,5329282,full.story

 

 

The pork industry lobbied the government over this and it is now a rule for government workers to call it "H1N1" whenever talking about the swine flu. You even hear journalists use "H1N1" which I think is unusual.

 

I make it a point to use the term "swine flu", "pig flu" or Eric Marcus' "bacon flu".

 

It is true you can not get the swine flu from eating pork, but the conditions in factory farms where pork is produced helped create and spread the virus. I have no trouble giving credit where credit is due.