That's the subject of Tom Stevenson's Daily Telegraph column. He lists 6 items. Here's the first:
What's in a name? A rose may smell as sweet by any other name but the tag
we hang on an illness can have real economic significance. The World Health
Organisation plumped for swine flu because the virus involved is more
porcine than avian or human. Sorry pigs. And sorry the pig-breeding and
rearing industry. A number of countries have already slapped a ban on
Mexican pork exports, despite the fact that the flu cannot be passed on
through meat. Previous flu pandemics have adopted the name of their country
of origin but here too mistakes are made – the Spanish flu of 1918-1919
apparently started in Scotland. Fortunately memories are short and, even if
this outbreak comes to be known as Mexican flu, the tourists will be back
soon enough.
Read the entire thing for the rest.
On the same line, found this article. Apparently, Egypt has decided to slauhter 300k-400k pigs!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/apr/30/swine-flu-egypt
Posted by: Mehul | April 30, 2009 at 11:12 AM
Why am I not surprised? Not so much at Egypt, but at any government doing such a thing.
Posted by: John | May 06, 2009 at 06:47 PM
I want to know whether the swine flu can now be fully controlled as bird flu.
Posted by: paing | May 11, 2009 at 06:13 AM
@paing: I have no idea. It seems this one is under control, but a case can be made we're overdue for a pandemic.
Posted by: John | May 11, 2009 at 09:57 PM