Although concern over swine flu seems to be easing off, influenza experts say there remains a very high likelihood the flu will return when flu season begins in October.  Further concern is that the influenza virus will have mutated into a more virulent form by then, bringing more infection and more severe symptoms when it returns.

In response to the fear of illness, a trend sweeping the nation is swine flu parties, where people gather for no other reason than to become exposed to the (A)H1N1 virus.  The logic is that exposure now will make an individual immune from the virus if it returns later.  Medical experts say this is a dangerous game more like a self-imposed biological experiment than a safe or wise thing to do.

Dr. William Schaffner says it’s impossible to predict the nature of the swine flu virus if it does return at a later date.  Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University (Tennessee) influenza expert, says the risk of known life-threatening complications occurring in the current viral strain makes self-infection a very risky idea.

Schaffner further says the risk of severe illness isn’t limited to just the individual who chooses to be infected at a swine flu party.  The self-infected individual risks the chance of passing the virus on to others who might suffer severe illness and contagious exposure can occur even before the self-infected individual shows any symptoms of illness himself.

At Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, influenza researcher Dr. Robert Atmar “strongly recommend(s) against” trying to deliberately catch swine flu.  He says there’s no guarantee swine flu will return in the fall and deliberate infection is like rolling the dice when there is no need to.

Atmar also said he expects improved flu medications and perhaps even a vaccine will be available by the time flu season comes around again.