Transcripts

Text transcript of 9/11/09 radio actuality.

This is Congressman Ike Skelton.

The United States and our global neighbors are confronting a fresh outbreak of H1N1 human influenza. This outbreak was to be expected given the return of children to school and the natural onset of the fall flu season. As our government and American news media work to convey information to the public about this virus, it is critical that the communication be responsible.

While I appreciate that some news agencies have done a good job of correctly identifying H1N1 human influenza, I have been extremely disappointed that some news outlets continue to refer to H1N1 human influenza solely as "swine flu." Doing so contributes to the public's misconception that the virus infects hogs or pork products at the grocery store. American hogs and American pork are safe. And, news outlets ought to be more careful in how they phrase their reports.

When reporters repeatedly refer to H1N1 human influenza as "swine flu," it hurts family farmers in Missouri and throughout the countryside. These references are especially damaging to pork producers who are already experiencing severe economic losses.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that the "swine flu" viruses, which sicken animals, are very different from H1N1 human influenza. The Centers also point out that H1N1 human influenza is not spread by food and that humans cannot acquire the virus by eating pork or pork products.

I call on all members of the media to consider the impact of reporters' comments on America's family farms. Referring to the virus as H1N1 human influenza, and not as "swine flu," would be the responsible thing for farmers and for the public at large.

This is Congressman Ike Skelton.