Brwnigirl
Former Member
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- Feb 16, 2009
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Oh brother. I think everyone has more to worry about than what this disease is called. The article is kind of humorous given the seriousness of the situation:
Israeli Official: 'Swine
Flu' Offensive
The outbreak of swine flu should be renamed "Mexican" influenza in deference to Muslim and Jewish sensitivities over pork, said an Israeli health official Monday.
Deputy Health Minister Yakov Litzman said the reference to pigs is offensive to both religions and "we should call this Mexican flu and not swine flu," he told a news conference at a hospital in central Israel.
Both Judaism and Islam consider pigs unclean and forbid the eating of pork products.
Scientists are unsure where the new swine flu virus originally emerged, though it was identifed first in the United States. They say there is nothing about the virus that makes it "Mexican" and worry such a label would be stigmatizing.
(more at link)
http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/dpg_Israeli_Official_Swine_Flu_Offensive_SAB_042720092443793
As a joke, I read somewhere yesterday that since it's part swine flu and part avian flu, it should be called the Flying Pig Flu.
I like it.As a joke, I read somewhere yesterday that since it's part swine flu and part avian flu, it should be called the Flying Pig Flu.
Callling it the swine flu is also going to hurt the pork industry. I don't think calling it the Mexican flu is right either.
Phase 4 is characterized by verified human-to-human transmission of an animal or human-animal influenza reassortant virus able to cause “community-level outbreaks.” The ability to cause sustained disease outbreaks in a community marks a significant upwards shift in the risk for a pandemic. Any country that suspects or has verified such an event should urgently consult with WHO so that the situation can be jointly assessed and a decision made by the affected country if implementation of a rapid pandemic containment operation is warranted. Phase 4 indicates a significant increase in risk of a pandemic but does not necessarily mean that a pandemic is a forgone conclusion.
Roughly 10,000 to 12,000 illegal immigrants cross the US\Mexico border every single day, but closing the border is not warranted?
"Napolitano said Sunday night that there was no "realistic hope of containment" that would motivate a border closure, as was called for Saturday by Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.)."
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/napolitano-closing-border-not-the-answer-to-flu-2009-04-27.html
Maybe it's just me, but this is ridiculous.
Roughly 10,000 to 12,000 illegal immigrants cross the US\Mexico border every single day, but closing the border is not warranted?
"Napolitano said Sunday night that there was no "realistic hope of containment" that would motivate a border closure, as was called for Saturday by Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.)."
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/napolitano-closing-border-not-the-answer-to-flu-2009-04-27.html
Maybe it's just me, but this is ridiculous.
If the illegal immigrants crossing the border are not the primary vector of disease transmission then not closing the the border would not be ridiculous.Roughly 10,000 to 12,000 illegal immigrants cross the US\Mexico border every single day, but closing the border is not warranted?
"Napolitano said Sunday night that there was no "realistic hope of containment" that would motivate a border closure, as was called for Saturday by Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.)."
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/napolitano-closing-border-not-the-answer-to-flu-2009-04-27.html
Maybe it's just me, but this is ridiculous.