Question: Why is the Novel H1N1 Illness Called Swine Flu?
Answer: According to the CDC, it was called swine flu "because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs in North America." After some study, though, the virus turned out to be quite different having genes from pig, bird and human flu viruses.
You will probably continue to hear members of the media or the general public refer to both the virus and the illness caused by the virus as swine flu. Scientists and others are referring to the virus as novel H1N1, however. The World Health Organization is referring to the pandemic as virus(H1N1) 2009.
It's also important to know that, even though there are components of swine influenza present in this new virus, you cannot get sick with it from eating pork. There are also components of avian flu in this virus but there is no risk of getting the flu from poultry either.