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Swine flu parties are the latest innovation to come out during the recent swine flu panic that has gripped the world. Swine flu parties are similar to chicken pox parties where parents bring their children over to spend time with another child infected with chicken pox.
The logic behind these parties being that by overcoming the apparently mild H1N1 strain of the swine flu virus, the immune system would be better capable of protecting that individual against a more virulent strain that could possibly emerge next autumn.
The fact that only one to two billion doses of a vaccine against the flu would be available to the world's six billion people, as well as the distrust some people have in vaccines, has lead to an active debate as to whether or not these parties are a good idea.
Experts and specialists are generally against the idea saying that the consequences of infection can never be predicted and that much is still to be learned about the infection. However, some specialists say it may not be a bad idea in poor countries that are not likely to have access to vaccination.
According to the AFP, Richard Besser, the acting head of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that having a swine flu party is not a good idea. "It's a big mistake putting individuals and children at risk, and the CDC does not recommend that people follow that course," he said.
What is your take on this new idea? Do you agree with the experts that swine flu parties are a bad idea? Or do you agree with those who think that the risk is worth it?
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