The virus was originally called the swine flu before researchers discovered that it was actually a genetic mutation of a virus that infected pigs, birds and humans. At one point, Israeli health officials were requesting that the pandemic be changed to “Mexican flu” because the reference to pigs was offensive to Jews and Muslims. However, while it appeared that a large majority of the initial cases were found in Mexico City, researchers are still unsure as to where the flu virus actually originated. There is nothing particularly “Mexican” about the virus and it was not renamed. (3)
In 1976, a strain of the swine flu caused an illness in 13 soldiers at Fort Dix in New Jersey. One soldier eventually succumbed to the disease and died. The federal government feared a pandemic and began mass immunizations across the country but it was halted when the virus did not spread and some of the individuals who received the vaccine developed a rare neurological disorder.
Unfortunately, the vaccine, which is now being prepared to prevent the spread of H1N1, has also undergone minimal safety evaluations. In an effort to protect the pharmaceutical industry and manufacturers who are providing the flu vaccine the federal government has offered a blanket coverage against any civil or criminal charges based on any side effects and individual may suffer from the flu vaccine being offered for the H1N1 virus.
Resources:
(1) ConsumerReports.org: Adults Over May Have Protection Against Swine Flu
(2) Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Serum Cross-Reactive Antibody Response to a Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Virus After Vaccination with Seasonal Influenza Vaccine
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5819a1.htm
(3) University of Oxford: Swine Flu Origins Revealed
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090613063849.htm
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