Swine Flu Parties

[SunlampVexesEel]

On the BBC this morning....

Know someone with Swine Flu?

Well time to get together with a few friends...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/artic ... d-you.html

The evidence does seem to suggest that it might of worked as a response to the 1918 epidemic as people who got the early variant had a better likelyhood of surviving the subsequent more virulent outbreak.

Isn't the flu jab just a mechanism for exposing yourself against a less virulent strain?

Regards
SVE

PS

I have no intention of doing this myself! It would be too much like tempting fate for my liking; however scientifically it does have a certain appeal.

[zee]

The Mail is rarely to be trusted in medical matters.

The BBC is reporting the chairman of the BMA's advice against swine flu parties: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8125191.stm

[mike1880]

It sounds sensible doesn't it? My personal non-medical opinion is that it would be best to get it as soon as possible. However, you have to bear in mind that about 1 in 600 are dying from it in developed countries so it's not something to rush into with blind enthusiasm.

I'm not sure it's going to be necessary for us in Birmingham anyway - they've given up closing schools and have started identifying temporary mortuaries instead...

Mike

[SunlampVexesEel]

The Mail is rarely to be trusted in medical matters.

The BBC is reporting the chairman of the BMA's advice against swine flu parties: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8125191.stm

Well I think the BMA would say that; after all exposing yourself unncessarily to a risk is obviously something they could not condone.

However, it doesn't actually make it a bad plan if you are not in a high risk group (i.e. do not have an underlying illness), and medical opinion is split in the US on the matter.

[hermanmunster]

Can help to get antibodies if all we get is antigenic drift ie gradual shift in the makeup of the virus as opposed to antigenic shift whihc is more major and can turn the virus really nasty - partic if it meets up with h5n1.
Swine flu parties won't make much difference if that happens and we'll just get ill twice over...

[Ed's mum]

Isn't one argument AGAINST 'swine flu parties' because it would put a ridiculous strain on services like the NHS? I know that I read this somewhere. I suppose it would be rather irresponsible to intentionally catch it and then expect treatment or help from others.

[SunlampVexesEel]

The argument is that a small percentage of those affected will need special care. e.g. Ventilators, to cope with very serious complications. In some case these complications are fatal.

However, for the majority, the affect will be small. And the potential is that those affected will be better able to cope with a subsequent strain.

In the case of a major outbreak there would possibly not be enough ventilators to go around; so being badly affected sooner rather than later might also make sense.

... does make you wonder....

[sallyj]

A primary teacher in a school near us has been diagnosed & is at home being treated. The Head has kept the school open. Most people find this no problem,but a few have been horrified & have kept thier children home,much to the Heads very public disgust !
I can understand if a parent has a new baby they can't avoid taking on the school run,or have a child with a lowered immune system,but generally I think there is a lot of over reacting.
A friend who works in a mental health facility in California emailed to say she was feeling better now after contracting swine flu at work. They were very straightforward-home,rest & don't forget to wear a face mask on her way to & from the doctors office for the inevitable shots !
She said she felt like a Japanese tourist with her face covered up