 The initial outbreak was called the " H1N1 influenza " , or " Swine Flu " by American media . It is called the pandemic H1N1 / 09 virus by the WHO , while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention refer to it as " novel influenza A ( H1N1 ) " or " 2009 H1N1 flu " . In the Netherlands , it was originally called " Pig Flu " , but is now called " New Influenza A ( H1N1 ) " by the national health institute , although the media and general population use the name " Mexican Flu " . South Korea and Israel briefly considered calling it the " Mexican virus " . Later , the South Korean press used " SI " , short for " swine influenza " . Taiwan suggested the names " H1N1 flu " or " new flu " , which most local media adopted . The World Organization for Animal Health proposed the name " North American influenza " . The European Commission adopted the term " novel flu virus " . 
