Swine Flu Should More Accurately Be Called North American Flu

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Main Category: Swine Flu
Also Included In: Flu / Cold / SARS;  Respiratory / Asthma;  Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
Article Date: 29 Apr 2009 - 5:00 PDT

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The Office International des Epizooties (OIE), the global organization that manages the fight against animal diseases globally, has said that the term North American Flu would be more accurate than Swine Flu.

The Office International des Epizooties (World Organization for Animal Health) says that because no pig has been found ill, in addition to the fact that the current virus contains avian and human components, the term North American Flu would be more precise. The virus originates from North America.

OIE compared its preference for the geographic naming of this influenza to Spanish flu. Spanish flu, or Spanish influenza, was of animal origin and killed over 50 million people at the end of World War I, 1918-1919. This flu has not reached pandemic proportions.

In a statement, the OIE, which is based in Paris, said "The virus has not been isolated in animals to date. Therefore, it is not justified to name this disease swine influenza."

Peter Cowen, associate professor of epidemiology and public health, North Carolina State University, says that the H1N1 virus is being called "swine flu" because of the 1918 outbreak in Spain. Cowen adds that that virus probably had a wild bird origin but nonetheless became known as the swine influenza virus because it caused significant mortality in both swine and human populations.

Cowen stresses that the current H1N1 virus that has infected people in Mexico, the rest of North American, and some parts of the world, has not sickened pigs.

Cowen says that this virus is called swine flu because "..is the history and evolution of the virus. It also rests on the fact the some of the genetic analysis indicates that elements from viruses that have traditionally been found in swine populations are incorporated. However, since we know nothing of how this virus has gotten into the human population but there apparently is no history of swine exposure, it probably makes more sense epidemiologically to refer this simply as an H1N1 virus."

Cowen added that the H5N1 virus, which is prevalent in Asia, was known as avian influenza or bird flu, but that it, over time, is becoming known by its viral strain, rather than bird flu. He says the current term "swine flu" is an unfortunate one because it implies a transmission between pigs and people (zoonotic transmission), when in fact, its origin and epidemiology is probably much more complex.

Source - The National Pork Board, USA.

Further information on Swine Flu

• See a Map Of H1N1 Outbreaks
• See our Mexico Swine Flu Blog

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