Source: Xinhua

04-29-2009 10:11

Special Report:   Tech Max

WASHINGTON, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. authorities said on Tuesday that they were considering changing the name of "swine flu" to remove misunderstanding by pork importers from the country.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told reporters that the United States is concerned not only about safety but also its impact on the economy.

"This is not a food-borne crisis. It's important to not refer to swine flu. It's important to convey the message that consuming pork will not cause this illness," he said.

Nine countries including Russia, the Philippines and Thailand have imposed ban on U.S. pork and swine imports amid the swine flu epidemic.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also reaffirmed that there is no risk from eating pork, but there is every risk of human-to-human transmission of swine flu.

"In the public, we've been seeing a fair amount of misconception," said CDC Acting Director Richard Besser. "That's not helpful to pork producers, that's not helpful to people who eat pork. It's not helpful to people who are wondering how they can get this infection."

He also urged for the discussion to better describe the disease "that would not lead to inappropriate actions on people's part."

The United States has geared up its response after the swine flu outbreak beginning in Mexico more than two weeks ago spread to several American states including Texas, California and New York and has left at least 65 sick.

The U.S. government has declared a Public Health Emergency as a precautionary tool to ensure that it has the necessary resources to respond quickly and effectively.

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Editor:Yang Jie