AHN Staff
Cancun, Mexico (AHN) - Canada's chief public health officer Dr. David Butler-Jones rejected on Thursday the suggestion for children infected with the Influenza A (H1N1) virus to come together and in the process build immunity in the event the swine flu virus becomes stronger.
Speaking from Mexico where he is attending a global discussion on the H1N1 pandemic, Butler-Jones said he is against swine flu parties - which has gained prominence on Internet-based discussion groups - because of lack of predictability which child will become more sick and which one will die.
Butler Jones asked, quoted the CanWest News Service, "Who wants to have that party and have that as a consequence? There is no guarantee as to how this virus will evolve. But, certainly, trying to get infected as this time is potentially very dangerous."
The idea of swine flu events came from pox parties held before a vaccine for chickenpox was developed. Some online forums are now on the planning stage to hold the swine flu parties.
With Butler-Jones in Cancun, Mexico is Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq who shared the Canadian experience of dealing with H1N1 with health ministers from other countries.
Aglukkaq, said in a statement, "Throughout this outbreak, countries have been transparent with each other and with the public.... The willingness to share information in order to control the acute phase of the outbreak was based on relationships that we have developed over several years of pandemic planning. Partnerships like the Global Health Security Initiative have paid off and put in place a strong foundation for the next phase of our response."
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