Public Health: US Gov warns against fad of "pox parties."

A notice from the IC3, a US government department dedicated to criminal offences committed using the internet, refers to so-called "pox-parties" in which - incredibly - instead of proper vaccination, parents give their children lollipops said to carry the chickenpox virus.

How does the lollipop get the virus? Parents give infected children the lollipops to lick, then sell them. Allegedly. Apparently. Unbelievably. But seemingly truly.

Aside from the lunacy of an uncontrolled dose, the US government says that it might not work anyway - and that there's no telling what other diseases, bacteria or harmful substances might be on the lollipops.

There is nothing illegal about holding the parties: stupidity is not a criminal offence. But there is a federal crime of shipping any virus through the mail.

IC3 Notice 18 February 2012

Recently, the IC3 received a complaint from an individual reporting an advertisement on a social media site that offered ways to obtain "natural immunity" from the chickenpox by sharing lollipops licked by children infected with the virus. Parents have been known to take their child to a "Pox Party" as an alternative to vaccinating children from varicella, otherwise known as chickenpox, but sending virus-covered lollipops through the mail is against Federal law.One individual posted a message stating "fresh batch of pox in Nashville shipping of suckers, spit, and Q-tips available tomorrow 50 dollars."As a disclaimer, the social media site posted the following notice on their page:"This page has never condoned the mailing of infectious diseases. For our members: The mailing of infectious items, such as lollipops, rags, etc, is a federal offence. This page is not private and can been seen by members and non members alike. You may post on the page that you have the pox and are willing to share in YOUR AREA but please keep your specifics in private messages between members. Again, this page can be seen by anyone and mailing is a federal offense. We are all intelligent adults but these guidelines will help protect your privacy."According to the Centre for Disease Control's (CDC) website, www.cdc.gov, chickenpox is spread in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It can also be spread by touching or breathing in the virus particles that come from the chickenpox blisters. The CDC also discourages chickenpox parties because the disease can be serious. Dangerous diseases like hepatitis A and strep can be transmitted via saliva according to the CDC's website. Therefore, not only is the contaminated candy not likely to provide exposure to chickenpox, it could expose children to an entirely different disease.