04.29.2009 1:20 pm
What should be the name for this latest strain of the flu?
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Today’s Talk of the Day was suggested and written by my colleague Doug Moore.
U.S. officials said Tuesday that they may abandon the term swine flu, for fear it is confusing people into thinking they could catch it from pork (you cannot).
In Thailand, government officials have opted for the “Mexican flu.” That is also the favored name by a deputy health minister in Israel. He says it will keep Jews from having to say the word swine.
Yet another suggestion comes from the World Organization of Animal Health, which has suggested “North American influenza.” Doing so keeps with a long tradition of naming influenza pandemics for the regions where they were first identified.
What do you think the name should be?
Kurt is the director of social media for the Post-Dispatch, where he has worked since August 2002. He's been a journalist since 1982, covering municipal government, courts, education and two hurricanes as a reporter before becoming an editor. 
The WHO suggestion makes the most sense. Calling it “mexican” is really unfair to Mexico, although one wonders if this would have caught fire if that nation had better sanitation intrastructure. Isreal’s comment on this is compeltely tasteless by the way. People are dying and they are worried about their anti-pork mantra in the Jewish faith. Really? That’s the first thing to think about right now?
I heard Slugger say that this is all the fault of George W Bush.
It seems to have originated in Mexico, and all the deaths so far have been Mexicans – even the one here was a Mexican national on a visit. Since one of the more popular pastimes in Mexico is Lucha Libre (Mexican professional wrestling – with masks), and humans have a long standing tradition of making fun of things that scare us, I think we should call it the “Mexican Mangler”. Then rather than say I have the swine flu, you could go with something like “the Mexican Mangler has me in a real choke hold!” - which would make calling into work far more entertaining
Of course, the more scientific side of me just wants to go with H1N1, so perhaps we could work with that and call it the “hiney” - As in, “I got some hiney while I was out last night – and not the good kind!”
Good topic. Can’t seem to think right now, though. Feeling under the weather…
NAFTA flu?
i think flu’s and viruses come from outer space. this here one came from a tail disconnect event that was followed by a gaseus burp from the comet lulin. so it should of course be called the lulin flu:)
Long pig flu. Spanish-Indian flu.
Actually, since the source is swine, we could call it `short pig flu.’
How about “Cortez’s Last Laugh”?
In keeping with the silly euphemism fad that’s all the rage at the Department of Homeland Stupidity these days, how about “pathogen caused breathing cessation”?
Go Fish… I like that one.