'Swine flu parties' to boost immunity a bad idea, US official says

• People reportedly holding "swine flu parties"
• Idea is to catch early less deadly strain
• Bad idea says health official

A US health official recommends that you cancel plans for that "swine flu party".

A swine flu party is a gathering intended to pass on infection of the A(H1N1) flu virus as protection against a future more virulent strain.

The idea for "swine flu parties", which reportedly first surfaced on specialty internet sites, comes from "chickenpox parties'', where sick children infect healthy ones with the chickenpox virus.

Parents who do this usually oppose vaccinating their children, or want them to have stronger immunity against more virulent strains.

US health officials fear that the unpredictable and potentially deadly A(H1N1) flu virus could mutate and appear as a more virulent, drug-resistant strain later in the year.

However having a "swine flu party'' is "a big mistake'', said Richard Besser, the acting head of the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).