LJWorld.com weblogs Congressional Briefing
Posted
by George Diepenbrock
October 29, 2009 at 11:26 a.m.
Moran asks news networks to stop saying 'swine flu'
Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., is asking major news networks to stop referring to the H1N1 virus as "swine flu," saying it is harming the pork industry and farm families across Kansas and the nation.
In the letter, Moran says that the term "swine flu" confuses consumers and could lead them to believe pork is unsafe to eat — despite statements by federal agricultural and health agencies calling it a myth.
"But every time the nightly news or a morning paper references the H1N1 virus as 'swine flu' it reinforces the false belief that pork is unsafe," Moran wrote.
The congressman, whose district includes most of western and north-central Kansas, said the House Agriculture Committee was told H1N1 led to nearly $1.3 billion in lost revenue for the U.S. pork industry in the last six months.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control on its Web site still lists references to the "swine flu" and explains why H1N1 is sometimes referred to as that.
Originally laboratory testing showed genes in the new virus were similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in North American pigs.
"But further study has shown that this new virus is very different from what normally circulates in North American pigs. It has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in pigs in Europe and Asia and bird (avian) genes and human genes," according to the CDC.
The CDC also says people cannot get infected with H1N1 by eating pork.
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Comments
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Jimo (anonymous) says…
What will Moran say when there's an outbreak of cowpox?
Besides, anyone want to guess what percentage of Americans are too dumb to connect "pig" and "pork" with "swine"?
appleaday (anonymous) says…
Q: "Besides, anyone want to guess what percentage of Americans are too dumb to connect “pig” and “pork” with “swine”?"
A: They're probably all Moran's constituents.
hawkman8950 (anonymous) says…
Why? Does this flu have a complex about being called swine flu or something? Does it have feeling all of a sudden and Moran feels since we are fighting it that we should also practice decency as well? Poor poor H1N1! Cry yourself a river and get over it already! You're a virus and you suck! (That last little bit was in case the swine flu can happen to log in and is reading the article over a cup of coffee and actually does have feelings attached to it)
UfoPilot (anonymous) says…
They should call it the Rosie O'Donnell flue...
hawkman8950 (anonymous) says…
if i was the flu virus i would be offended if someone called me that for sure! lol
snap_pop_no_crackle (anonymous) says…
"coughing death" is so much more friendly a term.
KansasPerson (anonymous) says…
Hawkman, if it does log in and read that, and if it does have feelings, you've totally pissed it off now! I'd watch your back if I were you. :)
remember_username (anonymous) says…
Oh yes, we should call it what it is "Influenza Virus A, Subtype H1N1", or as WHO calls it "Pandemic H1N1/09". On the other hand it's easier to say and spell "Swine Flu". Is there any solid statistics to support the belief that "Swine Flu" is causing a decline in pork demand?
honeychild (Mel Briscoe) says…
the pigs ain't complaining.
rodentgirl16 (anonymous) says…
Hawkman, there's a video of him and regular flu on the LDCHD site. He seems like the kind of fellow that might retaliate if you hurt his feelings. He seems to revel in his "swineflu-ness" though.
Although due to his bright color, I bet he was teased a lot as a child so swine flu probably just bounces off of him.
http://www.ldchealth.org/index.php
merrill (anonymous) says…
The congressman needs to stay out of this affair. Calling the swine flu other than what it is would be confusing to people.
Rep Moran leave well enough alone.
snap_pop_no_crackle (anonymous) says…
merrill, you actually wrote a post yourself? Go you!
gr (anonymous) says…
I guess that's moran and not moron.
'You swine!'
Should we ban people from using the above phrase so it doesn't offend the little piggies?
I think the news media did mislead the public because it said you can't get the .... how about..... pork flu.... from pork but you need to cook it well. That says you can get it from pork.
Otherwise, they would say something like you can't get the flu from pork, but as always, to keep from getting other diseases, make sure you cook it well.
hawkman8950 (anonymous) says…
well if it decided to retaliate on me then i say bring it on!
blue73harley (anonymous) says…
Swine flew.
http://images.clipartof.com/small/454...