CDC warning of H1N1 parties

APPLETON - The CDC says H1N1, an illness most are trying to avoid, is drawing others together. The health agency is warning of "swine flu parties" gatherings where people, and often their children, intentionally have close contact with someone who has H1N1. The idea is to contract the disease when it' mild, in hopes of building immunity to a more serious strain.

"To purposely expose your child to something is ridiculous," parent Sarah Erickson said. "I would say try to avoid it as much as possible."

The thought may seem strange, but with the H1N1 vaccine delayed, debate over a "party" alternative is growing on parenting websites and message boards.

"It's almost like chicken pox, they try to make that comparison," Appleton health director Kurt Eggebrecht said.

Health workers say the idea of exposing children to infection is nothing new. In the past, some parents held "chicken pox parties" hoping their child would get a mild strain of the virus, rather than become severely ill.

On a Yahoo! parenting Web site, Ian writes, "The earlier the infection, the better equipped the body will be with antibodies." Another parent Carolyn adds, "The immune system should be exposed to different viruses throughout a person's lifetime, this is the only way to provide effective immunity, vaccines aren't proven."

Eggebrecht says they're right in one respect: like seasonal influenza, exposure to H1N1 will build immunities.

"The difference is with H1N1 you may not just get sick, you may have severe complications," he said.

Most experience a mild illness, but Eggebrecht says young, healthy people across the country have been hospitalized or died from the virus.

"It's really best to wait for the vaccine and get yourself immunized," he said.

The CDC says swine flu parties are not a safe or effective way to prevent H1N1 in the future.

"If they're going to get it they're going to get it, but I'm not going to subject them to it," parent Theresa Gouin said.

When it comes to H1N1 parties, parents in Northeast Wisconsin are sending regrets. Health officers in the area say they don't believe parties are causing a problem locally, but are still recommending caution.