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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, 2009 H1N1 Novel Pandemic influenza, the illness 
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commonly referred to as "Swine Flu", is a combination of human 
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and animal strains of the influenza virus; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The 2009 H1N1 influenza virus is a human influenza 
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virus that is spread from human to human; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 
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indicates that the 2009 H1N1 influenza currently circulating 
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among humans is a "novel" flu strain, with a genetic makeup 
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that is unique and has not been seen before in humans, birds, 
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or pigs; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Since last spring and the onset of the 2009 H1N1 
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influenza outbreak in humans, the USDA has consistently asked 
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the media to stop calling this "novel" pandemic virus "swine 
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flu"; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and 
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Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have 
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both pledged to cease using the term "Swine Flu"; and

 
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    WHEREAS, According to the CDC and the U.S. Department of 
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Homeland Security (DHS), human beings cannot contract H1N1 
 


 






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influenza from eating pork products; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Pork production is a major component of Illinois' 
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agriculture industry, with cash receipts from farm marketings 
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totaling approximately $800 million in 2007; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Illinois ranks fourth in the nation in the number 
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of hogs and pigs on farms; and

 
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    WHEREAS, U.S. hog farmers have lost almost $4.6 billion 
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since September 2007 as feed prices rose to a record high last 
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year and the recession and the H1N1 influenza outbreak curbed 
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pork demand in 2009; and
 
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    WHEREAS, By continuing to mislabel the 2009 H1N1 influenza 
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virus that is affecting human populations around the world, the 
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media is causing undue and undeserved harm to America's 
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agriculture industry, especially pork producers; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Continued use of the term "Swine Flu" is damaging 
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to Illinois' pork industry, as well as the State as a whole; 
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therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE 
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SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge all State agencies, 
 


 






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their representatives, and all private media outlets to cease 
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using the term "Swine Flu" and further urge them to use the 
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term "2009 H1N1 Influenza" in its place; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the Governor, the Director of the  Illinois 
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Department of Agriculture, and the Director of the Illinois 
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Department of Public Health.