The Homeland Security Secretary Says The Swine Flu Should Be Called The (H1N1) Virus Instead!

The Homeland Security Secretary,Janet Napolitano,wants the swine flu to be called the H1N1 virus.That's because several countries are beginning to ban meat imports.Especially pork products.Even though it has already been established that you can't get this virus from consuming pork.Here's more from The AFP:

"The United States Tuesday warned trade partners against erecting barriers to US products amid the spreading global swine flu outbreak, saying pork meat does not transmit the virus.

"The American food supply is safe," US Trade Representative Ron Kirk and the head of the Department of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, said in a statement.

"USTR and USDA are working closely with the Departments of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to monitor the situation carefully," they said.

Kirk and Vilsack pointed to statements by the World Health Organization and the CDC that there was no evidence of swine flu being transmitted by meat.

There have been no reports of the new deadly virus occurring in swine in the United States, they said.

"While there is no evidence at this time that swine has been infected with this virus, the science is clear that consuming or handling pork, consistent with safe handling practices, is of no risk to consumers," Agriculture Secretary Vilsack said.

Kirk, the top US trade negotiator, called on all trading partners to base any food safety measures taken to protect their populations on scientific evidence and urged them to keep their international obligations.

"Restrictions on US pork or pork products or any meat products from the United States resulting from the recent outbreak do not appear to be based on scientific evidence and may result in serious trade disruptions without cause," Kirk said.

Ecuador on Tuesday became the latest country to halt pork imports from Mexico and the United States amid the rapidly spreading human swine flu infections.

Russia on Tuesday widened its ban on imports of all meat products to five US states from three. It had already banned pork products from nine US states."(END OF EXCERPT)Read the rest here.