swine flu vs. flu

swine flu

noun

Pathology.

  1. a form of influenza that afflicts pigs.

  2. a form of influenza that afflicts humans by infection with a virus once thought to be very similar to the influenza virus found in North American pigs.

flu

noun

  1. influenza.

  2. a specific variety of influenza, usually named for its point of dissemination or its animal vector.

    Hong Kong flu; swine flu.