Due to Sods' Law, just after I posted my last Swine Flu piece I came across a 15 year old girl named Ella. Ella is quoted in the Independent (something I somehow missed last time I looked at it) as having attended a swine flu party, so is this the first evidence that these parties have actually taken place? (HT: "sTeamTraen")

Here's the piece:

I have been to a swine flu party – but it didn't start out like that. It was a regular teenager's party until the conversation turned to swine flu and it turned out that my friend's boyfriend has it so it's likely that my friend, who is also 15, does as well. Everyone started laughing because the idea of a friend having swine flu was quite funny. It was one of those things that you hear about on the news and think will never affect you.

Then, the "swine flu party" started: a coughing fit from my friend all over everyone else.

Yes, lovely. So to begin with, this wasn't actually a swine flu party, just a bunch of teenage girls - none of whom apparently have the flu - spontaneously coughing over each other.

But Ella isn't just some average kid they found; she has apparently been writing for the Independent since 2008, covering everything from reviews of the latest Harry Potter to articles about the teenage view of sex . Prior to that she appeared in The Telegraph aged just thirteen. It's a bit cynical to present her as an average kid who happens to have been involved in swine flu parties when neither part of that is really true.

Now, it's not fair to criticise Ella for this. The girl has talent, and anyone with the skill, talent and maturity to be writing for the national press in their early teens should be encouraged - she is undoubtedly a great kid. However, one has to question the ethics of the editor in using this sort of story. It's all too reminiscent of, well, this guy: