Swine flu (selsema babi) or H1N1?

Guong

KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 (Bernama) -- Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim today suggested that all media return to using the terminology "swine flu" instead of Influenza A(H1N1). Bernama

What with this name change? The whole world is using H1N1 as a reference to this flu. Why change it?

He said this was to ensure that the people realized the danger of the disease and to get the message across to them more accurately.

It is also easier for (radio and television) announcers to state "selsema babi" (swine flu) than H1N1 in Bahasa Melayu, he told reporters after an official visit to Pos Malaysia, here.

What? If these announcers can't even pronounce such easy word, how on earth did they manage to become an announcer in the first place? Sounds more like an insult rather than helping them.

And what did our health minister have to say about this terminology?

PUTRAJAYA, June 26 (Bernama) -- The Health Ministry is sticking to the term Influenza A (H1N1) based on three reasons, namely the virus that causes the spread of the disease is a mixture of three aspects -- human beings, avian and swine -- as identified by the World Health Organisation (WHO), said its Director-General Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican. bernama

The answer by 'Dr'. Rais Yatim?

"We in the ministry will continue to use the easy-to-understand term. We will use the A(H1N1) terminology but for subsequent mentions, we will proceed with the term swine flu," he told reporters after the launching of the "1Malaysia" logo by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak here. bernama

Kinda ironic since he said this in the launching of 1Malaysia logo.

Or is this just some subtle way to give all the pork eaters/breeders some hint that one day, they'll ban pig? I'm just speculating.

Why do I reach to such speculation?

1. 'Selsema babi' or swine flu doesn't really define this flu accurately since it can be transmitted from human to human not from pig to human only. Maybe someone might say, "What about 'selsema burung' or bird flu?" Bird flu was named bird flu because the flu transmitted from bird to human only.

2. We've been using the term H1N1 even before this flu became a pandemic. So saying that this term will spread the massage across is just nonsense. The whole world is using the term H1N1. It will only cause confusion.

3. This statement was made by a politician who is not even involved in any medication related field. Judging from the political scene in Malaysia nowadays, everything will be politicized.

4. So, if they can't give the correct impression about this flu, how can they control it from spreading? I've already heard some people talking about avoiding pig to avoid catching this flu. (All thanks to the term 'selsema babi')

5. And some already voice irrational idea such as eliminating all of the pig in Malaysia. Don't believe me? Try surfing the web. You'll be surprised. And most of them are Malaysian.

They should just focus on treating and controlling this pandemic. Changing the name isn't helping much.

Why blame the pig? Or is it 'Why blame the pork eater?'