Swine Flu or H1N1

Pork producers are worried. Cable news outfits have people whipped up into a frenzy. So should we all call this swine flu or H1N1? President Barack Obama, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Iowa Governor Chet Culver and Iowa Senator Tom Harkin have all started using the H1N1 term.

We've starting to get quite a few emails at our station about it.

Here are a few:

"It doesn't matter how many times you tell people pork is OK, if you're calling this flu "swine" that's all they're going to hear. Prove to me and all the other hard working people in this state that you are more responsible than this. There are a lot of ignorant people in the world. Look at Egypt! They've ordered every swine to be slaughtered. Media hype, perhaps?"

"If the Sec of Ag Vilsac suggests we should not use the term Swine Flu, why are you continuing to use the term knowing it is hurting Iowa swine producers."

"If you want to help the pork producers instead of writing a story about 'swine flu' call it what it is...the H1N1 virus as per Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack recommendation."

Letterman Jokes About Lt. Gov.'s Swine Flu Announcement

Fortunately, Iowa, so far, as avoided any confirmed cases of swine flu. But it didn't stop the state from getting some national attention about the issue. Monday, Lt. Governor Patty Judge had a coughing fit in the middle of the state's briefing about swine flu-fighting efforts in Iowa. She joked it wasn't swine flu. David Letterman made the coughing attack part of his monologue. He has some fun with the Lt. Gov and listen how he refers to Governor Culver.

Here's the video: