UP TO MEDIA WHETHER TO USE SWINE FLU TERMINOLOGY

KUALA KLAWANG (Malaysia), June 26 (Bernama) -- It is up to the media whether
to use the terminology "swine flu" or Influenza A(H1N1), Information
Communication and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim said Friday.

He said the use of any of the terminologies was not a problem as what was
important was that the usage should emphasis the way the pandemic should be
understood.

"The ministry will not issue specific instruction to print and electronic
media on the usage of both terminologies," he said.

On June 25, Rais suggested that all media return to using the terminology
"swine flu" instead of Influenza A(H1N1) to ensure that the people realised the
danger of the disease and to get the message across to them more accurately.

Health Director-General Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said Friday that the
ministry was sticking to the term Influenza A(H1N1) as the spread of the disease
is a mixture of three aspects -- human beings, avian and swine -- as identified
by the World Health Organisation.

-- BERNAMA