Some British children - and their parents - may be throwing 'swine flu parties' thinking exposure to the virus will build up their immunity, though experts advise against it.
"I have heard of reports of people throwing swine flu parties,” said Richard Jarvis, chairman of the British Medical Association's public health committee.
"I don't think it is a good idea. I would not want it myself. It is quite a mild virus, but people still get ill and there is a risk of mortality," he told the BBC Tuesday.
Three people, including a six-year-old child, Sameerah Ahmad, have died of swine flu so far in Britain.
Jarvis 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."
Justine Roberts, the founder of a family website called Mumsnet told BBC Radio 4 she had heard rumours of "swine flu parties”.
“There is an awful lot of discussion (on Mumsnet) 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," she said.
"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."
But with nearly 6,000 cases of swine flu reported in Britain, Jarvis strongly warned against taking such an approach.