"swine flu parties" in the hope of building up resistance to the disease.
In its N1H1 flu update the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) said these parties were gatherings where people had close contact with someone who had H1N1 flu in order to become infected with the virus.
"The intent of these parties is to become infected with what for many people has been a mild disease, in the hope of having natural immunity to a new H1N1 virus that might circulate later and cause more severe disease."
The CDC said it did not see "swine flu parties" as a way to protect against H1N1 flu in the future.
"While the disease seen in this H1N1 flu outbreak has been mild for many people, it has been severe and even fatal for others. There is no way to predict with certainty what the outcome will be for an individual or, equally important, for others to whom the intentionally infected person may spread the virus," the update said.
The centres said they were still learning about the severity of the H1N1 flu virus.
"At this time, there is not enough information to predict how severe this H1N1 flu outbreak will be in terms of illness and death or how it will compare with seasonal influenza."
Seasonal influenza causes mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Each year, in the US, about 36 000 people die from flu-related complications and more than 200 000 people are hospitalised from flu-related causes. The CDC reported 8 975 confirmed or probable cases and 15 deaths in 49 states. - Tribune Reporter
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