Swine Flu parties?

~

However, while discussing it, he mentioned something about H1N1 parties. What? I had never heard of them, but apparently people are doing this.

It seems the parties are modeled after so-called ‘chickenpox parties’ where ill children infect those who don’t have the chickenpox virus.

Why, you ask? In the case of H1N1, in an attempt to protect – yes; protect! –against a flu that might arise and be more virulent later on.

Here’s the rationale. ‘Swine flu parties’ are gatherings where other people come into contact with someone who has H1N1 flu to get infected with it. It’s a roll of the dice, of course, but the expectation is the flu episode will be mild and the body will develop a natural immunity to the virus.

~