H1N1 influenza has been erroneously called swine flu in the past few weeks, according to a report released by the Iowa Pork Industry Center.
This particular virus strain, which has infected people in the U.S., Mexico and other parts of the world, has not been detected in any pigs.
According to James McKean, associate director of the center, the virus has spread through human-to-human contact and not pigs. Voicing the Centers for Disease Control’s statement that the virus is contagious, McKean said people need to be careful in daily interactions with others, and follow proper hygiene such as washing hands with sanitizers or soap.
The World Health Organization earlier suggested the flu be called North American Influenza but recently used the name “influenza A (H1N1)” for it.
