by Ombudsman

Will you please stop refering to the novel Influenza A virus circulating throughout Mexico, the US and the world as "swine flu" instead of the correct name, "H1N1 virus."
Thank you,
Cyndie Bashore

Dear Ms. Bashore:
I asked Joe Neel who is the lead editor on NPR's flu coverage about why NPR uses both terms and this is his response:

"NPR will continue to use the terms "swine flu" and "H1N1" interchangeably in its national broadcasts. You will likely hear us use "new swine flu" or "new H1N1" on first reference.

Here's why:
—The virus is a new swine virus, so it is accurate to call it "swine flu" or "new swine flu."
—The virus is a new H1N1 virus, so it is also accurate to call it "H1N1" or "the new H1N1 virus."
—We view "swine flu" as somewhat more precise scientifically than "H1N1."

There are at least 11,000 strains of animal flu viruses called H1N1, some of them swine, some human, some bird, etc. The top virologists in the world agree that this is a swine H1N1.

—The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is calling it "swine-origin influenza virus" as well as "H1N1" in its publications.

As the government drops the use of "swine flu" and uses "H1N1" more extensively in press conferences and taped interviews, I think you'll hear "H1N1" more frequently in our coverage."

NPR has also set up a Flu Shots blog.