Swine Flu Parties

CDC website advice:

What is CDC’s recommendation regarding "swine flu parties"?
"Swine flu parties" are gatherings during which people have close contact with a person who has 2009 H1N1 flu in order to become infected with the virus. The intent of these parties is for a person to become infected with what for many people has been a mild disease, in the hope of having natural immunity 2009 H1N1 flu virus that might circulate later and cause more severe disease.

CDC does not recommend "swine flu parties" as a way to protect against 2009 H1N1 flu in the future. While the disease seen in the current 2009 H1N1 flu outbreak has been mild for many people, it has been severe and even fatal for others. There is no way to predict with certainty what the outcome will be for an individual or, equally important, for others to whom the intentionally infected person may spread the virus.

CDC recommends that people with 2009 H1N1 flu avoid contact with others as much as possible. If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) Stay away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.

NY Times May article quotes Dr. Anne Moscona, a flu specialist at Weill Medical College of Cornell University:

I think it’s totally nuts, I can’t believe people are really thinking of doing it. I understand the thinking, but I just fear we don’t know enough about how this virus would react in every individual. This is like the Middle Ages, when people deliberately infected themselves with smallpox. It’s vigilante vaccination — you know, taking immunity into your own hands.

CNN June article quotes Dr Richard Jarvis, chairman of the British Medical Association's public health committee:

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.

Time magazine July article quotes Sir Liam Donaldson, Britain's Chief Medical Office:

We would never recommend intentionally exposing anyone to swine flu. We don't yet know enough about the risk profile of the virus, and while it has generally been mild in the U.K., in some parts of the world, young, previously healthy adults have died. Parents would never forgive themselves if they exposed a vulnerable child to serious illness.

CTV July article quotes Dr. Michael Gardam, director of infection, prevention and control with the University Health Network in Toronto:

First off, not all people have mild disease from H1N1. A small percentage develop serious disease. Can you imagine being the parent who intentionally gets their kid infected only to have child end up in the ICU later?