What is influenza A H1N1?

Influenza A H1N1 which is referred to as “swine flu” early on, is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009.

Later on, other parts of the world including Malaysia, reported people infected with this new virus. This virus is spreading from person-to-person, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread.

Influenza viruses are famous for their ability to share genetic materials between different strains of virus. Over the years, scientists and public health officials have developed a sophisticated way to characterize the different types of influenza virus.

This influenza is officially known as Influenza A (H1N1) meaning that this is a type A influenza which has hemaglutinin type 1 (H1) and neuraminidase type 1 (N1).

So please, call it Influenza A H1N1 or simply H1N1 and not other like swine flu or gajah flu.

Why Influenza A H1N1 virus sometimes called “swine flu”?

The virus was originally referred to as “swine flu” because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs in North America.

But further study has shown that this new virus is very different from what normally circulates in North American pigs. It has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in pigs in Europe and Asia and avian genes and human genes. Scientists call this a “quadruple reassortant” virus.

What The Health Ministry Said?

Our Health Ministry say we will call it Influenza A H1N1… and they are abiding the World Health Organization (WHO).

What The Information, Communication and Culture Ministry Said?

Our Information, Communication and Culture Ministry say we must call and will continue calling it in electronic media, Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), Swine Flu.

The reason is it is easier for the people, including those in the rural areas, to digest.

And here is the Bernama report:

RTM Will Call It ‘Swine Flu’ – Rais

KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 (Bernama) — Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) will continue to use the term ‘swine flu’ instead of influenza A (H1N1), said Information, Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.

Denying that the term would cause confusion, he said ‘swine flu’ was easier for the people, including those in the rural areas, to digest despite the Health Ministry’s stand of using the term ‘influenza A (H1N1)’.

“The issue does not arise at all. What matter most, the people understand that it is swine flu and not elephant flu… if H1N1 is used (by the Health Ministry), RTM will use swine flu.

“We have discussed this matter and internationally it is known as H1N1 but in Malaysia we will use the term ‘swine flu’. This is to ensure that the people understand the meaning.”

HUH… WHAT?

Damm… our rural people are too STUPID to know about the actual fact of Influenza A H1N1… it is easier for them to say out swine flu than H1N1… so that they know the flu is from PIG and not from GAJAH!!!

And the rural people are fed with this WRONG information by none other than the highest authority about information!!!