Swine flu conversation mutates to new level of absurdity

Ignore for a moment the question of whether swine flu is a fearsome plague or a mild annoyance, and let's move on to a more pressing matter: What should it be called?  Scientists are carrying on a heated discussion about whether it's correct to name the H1N1 virus after pigs, given that it also has genetic material from bird and human viruses too. Accuracy first.

Meanwhile, thanks to the reported suggestion of a World Health Organization spokeswoman -- who encouraged the public to come up with a better name for the sickness, Twitter users are trying to solve the problem in their own way. Led by actor Rainn Wilson, the online peanut gallery is engaged in a boisterous game of "Name that Flu" (#namethatflu). The object is not to find the most precise name, but the most ridiculous.

Here are a few examples:

- Hamthrax
- Aporkalypse
- Hypefluenza
- Sowmonella
- Global Hamdemic
- Epigdemic
- "I was thinking Jonothan [sic], or maybe Greg. If it's a girl, then Erin or Amelia."
- Hamageddon
- Baconsumption (obs.)
- Wilburculosis
- Smallporx

Mass hysteria has become ... hysterical.

Corrected: Thanks to readers for pointing out that virus's genetic material is made of RNA rather than DNA, and that National Public Radio originated the name game.

-- David Sarno

Comments

[Kary V.A.]

At least in the OMS the absurdity is on naming this flu, but in Mexico, oh, you should read what's circulating in Mexico. It goes from 'the government orchestrated this and it's a fake epidemic so they can change laws, bring the US army to occupy Mexico, let policemen raid houses' to 'it's a plot from the G7 group and the pharmaceutical company who produces the vaccine to sell more vaccines and the money earned will go to this group to improve the economy'.

Believe me, the discussion going on here is going to levels of idiocy never seen.

Greetings from Mexico.

[Kristen]

Point of correction: it was NPR News (Twitter: @NPRNews) who started the twitter contest, not Rainn Wilson. Rainn Wilson RT'd (Re-Tweeted) the original NPR tweet to his followers, hence the perception that he started it. (I subscribe to both NPR and Rainn, which is how I know this.)

[Ana]

Certainly the level of idiocy is at a very high level all over the world. This article is very funny; it is to a great extent an ode to the strength of the human spirit. Despite our reputation as being dry, we from the US have a great sense of humor! I hope that whatever the virus ends up being called the people infected by it get well quickly, and that those not yet infected stay healthy. www.dimequecrees.com

[Atheistno1]

If you are too afraid to face this flu, you will not get the antibodies to face the next one which may be worse. Are the public that scared of life that they can no longer look it in the eye? There's a plane in the sky, run & hide. A flu, run& hide!

[mikeho]

another correction: Flu viruses are RNA viruses, not DNA viruses... DNA viruses exist, but not for influenza strains..