Chicken Pox Lollipop: Spreading Germs Via Candy

By Laine Doss Tue., Nov. 8 2011 at 8:48 AM

Lollipops laced with chicken pox are being shared by moms.

Some Nashville moms have been offering to sell lollipops that have been licked by children with chicken pox, according to WSMV in Nashville. The thought process is that healthy children who lick these pops will contract the disease and then become immune to it.

The station reported that Wendy Werkit of Nashville offered a "fresh batch of pox in Nashville shipping of suckers, spit and Q-tips available tomorrow 50 dollars via PayPal" through a Facebook page named Find a Pox Party in Your Area. The site has since been taken down.

The activity caused Jerry Martin, U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, to issue a warning to moms wanting to trade in contaminated candy. It is a federal crime to send diseases or viruses across state lines, whether through the postal service or private services such as FedEx. Sending the lollipops is illegal under the same law that makes it a crime to mail contagions like anthrax. Conviction could lead to a sentence from less than a year to 20 years in prison, he said.

"Can you imagine getting a package in the mail from this complete stranger that you know from Facebook because you joined a group, and say, "Here, drink this purported spit from some other kid"? Martin told the Associated Press.

Short Order contacted another Facebook page, Find a Pox Party Near You, which brings moms together who want to have a pox party -- where children visit the home of a child with chicken pox. The thought is that this is a safer alternative to the vaccine.

Janessa Cox, a site administrator who has a master's degree in immunology and microbiology, does not condone the sale of infected items. She sent us a statement via email: "I am absolutely unaware of why someone would consider sending chicken pox through the mail. I have always been against it (although I've always been aware of it) and always speak up about my thoughts when I see it happening. It's extremely dangerous.

"Some people are desperate for their children to contract chicken pox naturally to gain natural immunity. Through that desperation, some people choose to do things that are not safe."

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Tags:

Chicken Pox, Facebook, lollipops

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Jayde

Besides the obvious fact that it is morally wrong people are not thinking about how many wacko's are out there. Lets not forget the person who purposely put cyanide in tylenol I think it was, the people putting anthrax in the mail as stated earlier, there are so many cases that could be brought up about people who have purposely infected a total stranger with varous diseases/poisons...somehow I can picture "using" the whole chicken pox lollipop as a means to transmit other diseases to infect people without being honest about what its infected with! Why in the world would anybody let alone a parent put their child at risk?! It is wrong, unsafe and in my opinion that person should NOT be allowed to be a parent

OccupyLosAngeles

I had a chickenpox vaccine when I was a young child-- as did my sister. 25 years later my sister contracted chickenpox -- while she was pregnant-- and she lost the child as a result. A few years after that, I came down with the virus as well-- and let me tell you it was hell. Getting this virus as an adult is much harder than as a small child and I got desperately ill. Some have said that the immunization can wear off, I can only say that it did happen for both my sister and I.

I have often said that when I have kids--and I hear that some kids have the virus--I will RUN with my child so they are exposed--so they can get it when their immune system is stronger--sometimes kids just get a few blisters--and then they are done with it.

I know it sounds crazy but if you gone through what we did--you would see the brilliance in the idea!

Brit Blogger

Sorry, but it's an absolutely STUPID idea to send infected lollipops to people. Give one to your child and he/she can contract some VERY SERIOUS diseases. They could get Meningitus, Staphylococcus bacteria - both can be fatal - amongst others. Chicken Pox is an airborne virus and the ONLY way to get it is by breathing in air exhaled by someone already infected, or by injection. If yopu want your child to contract it, find a child who has the virus and put them in the same room for a couple of hours.