Doctors warn against ‘swine flu parties’

 

 

Health experts are warning parents against holding “swine flu parties” in the hope of infecting their children with the H1N1 virus.

Talk of swine flu parties have emerged onto Internet forums. The idea is that exposing a child to the H1N1 virus while it remains relatively mild will give the child immunity if the virus returns in a more deadly form later on.

The idea is similar to the chicken pox and measles parties that were once a popular way of exposing children, so that they might acquire resistance to those diseases.

Health officials have been quick to condemn the idea. Speaking at a conference, Dr Richard Jarvis, said “I have heard of reports of people throwing swine flu parties. I don’t think it is a good idea. I would not want it myself. It is quite a mild virus, but people still get ill and there is a risk of mortality.”

Last month, Richard Besser, the acting head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also warned against deliberately exposing people to the virus.

 

While it’s not clear if any swine flu parties have been held, some people have been discussing the idea.

Flu epidemics often come in waves and there are fears that a more virulent form of H1N1 may strike in the fall. It has happened with the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918.

H1N1 is still very much an unknown quantity. Experts warn that little is known about the virus and that actively encouraging its spread could risk the health of those who are most vulnerable.  If you are unfamiliar with the swine flu, you might wan to check out a post called:  75 things you didn’t know about the swine flu to get caught up on what exactly the swine flu is all about.

While the symptoms associated with swine flu are not usually life threatening among people in good health, it can be deadly for elderly people or those with other medical conditions.

The latest figures from the World Health Organization show there have now been 311 confirmed deaths around the world from the H1N1 virus first identified in Mexico this spring, and just over 70,000 infections in 113 countries.