(OT) Swine flu parties
Magnus
Don't send children to swine flu parties, parents warned
by Tom Kelly
Parents were warned yesterday not to take their children to 'swine flu
parties' in the hope of getting them immunised from the virus.
Some mothers have suggested deliberately exposing youngsters to the
virus now before it mutates into a more potent strain, according to
the website mumsnet.com. Other parents want to infect children with it
as soon as possible because they fear that if the epidemic gets more
serious the antiviral Tamiflu will run out and the Health Service will
be overrun. For many years, parents have exposed their children to
playmates with chickenpox in order to allow them to have the once-only
disease at a convenient time.
But British Medical Association expert Dr Richard Jarvis urged against
taking the same approach with swine flu, which has killed three people
in the UK, including six year-old Sameerah Ahmad.
He said: 'I think parents would want to take into account that the flu
- although this particular strain is relatively mild for the most part
- is something that will knock people off their feet for a few days
and we are seeing appreciable morbidity, severe side-effects and sadly
the occasional death.
'My advice to parents would be to take this into account before taking
any child along to a flu party.'
Dr Jarvis, the chairman of the BMA's public health committee, told the
BBC Radio 4 Today programme that he wasn't aware any swine flu parties
had taken place yet. He added: 'We have picked up quite a lot of
evidence that the opposite is happening - people are scared,
justifiably, and children are being removed from school when there
isn't any need to actually do that.'
But Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts said she had heard rumours about
swine flu parties. 'There is an awful lot of discussion from people
who have come up with a fairly rational conclusion that it might be
better to pick this up now, given that we all think it might mutate to
a more virulent strain in the winter. 'We have heard of people saying
"Can we come round to your house when you get it?"
'There's definitely a prevailing view that it might be better to get
it now and some people are not despairing if there is a case in their
school.'
One user on the site posted a message: 'Great idea. Get it now while
it's mild and there's plenty of Tamiflu. There could be a swine flu
party.' However, Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson said: 'We
would never recommend intentionally exposing anyone to swine flu.
'We don't yet know enough about the risk profile of the virus, and
whilst it has generally been mild in the UK, in some parts of the
world young previously healthy adults have died.
'Parents would never forgive themselves if they exposed a vulnerable
child - perhaps a contact of a child at a party - to serious illness.'
The number of confirmed swine flu cases in the UK stands at more than
6,000. Three people in the UK have died after contracting the disease,
all of whom had pre-existing medical conditions (...)
whole article at:
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1196453/Dont-send-children-swine-flu-parties-parents-warned.html
_
The huge stupidity of some parents or self-proclaimed 'educators'
still amazes me!
:-(
Mort
"I have educated 5 people through the Thai school system so far in
this incarnation. One through Master's degree level and two are still
in primary school" - Goebells in Bangkok, on 24 Apr 2009
LarbGai
> The huge stupidity of some parents or self-proclaimed 'educators'
> still amazes me!
>
> :-(
> Mort
******* The huge stupidity of Maggie the Mullet still amazes us.
"I would rather have a German division in front of me than a French
one behind me".
General George Patton
Good Soldier Schweik
wrote:
I am amazed that the Magnificent Mullet will pay any attention to
"educators" as he seems to have some sort of hang up with the guy who
has an advanced education.
Jealousy? Perhaps.
cheers,
Schweik
(goodsoldierschweikatgmaildotcom)