An Israeli official is insisting that the swine flu virus that has killed 100 Mexicans should be renamed “Mexican flu” in deference to Jewish and Muslim sensibilities, according to the AP.
The AP reports: “Deputy Health Minister Yakov Litzman said the reference to pigs is offensive to both religions.
Both Judaism and Islam consider pigs unclean and forbid the eating of pork products.
Scientists are unsure where the new swine flu virus originally emerged, though it was identifed first in the United States. They say there is nothing about the virus that makes it “Mexican” and worry such a label would be stigmatizing.”
In other news, Litzman insists that Little Miss Piggy be called “She who will not be named,” and Guinea Pigs referred to as “Big Rats.”