A study shows that women in Australia and New Zealand who have already contracted swine flu are 13 times more likely to be admitted to the hospital with a critical illness. 11% of mothers and 12% of babies have died after being admitted to the intensive care unit with swine flu. Pregnant women have a higher risk of developing influenza complications.
During the period of study 209 women between the ages 15 to 44 who were child-bearing were admitted to the ICU with confirmed swine flu. Of these women 64% where either pregnant or recently had given birth. The results of the study showed that women who were 20 weeks pregnant were 13 times mote likely to be admitted to an ICU than non-pregnant women who had swine flu. Of these women 44% were put on ventilators to assist with there breathing and 9 of the 44% needed further assistance to help oxygen reach their heart and lungs.
Overall seven of the mothers and seven of the babies have died. Dr Seppelt stated that "although a mortality of 11% seems low when compared to usual outcomes of respiratory failure in intensive care … a maternal morality of 11% is high when compared with any other obstetric condition."
"The authors highlight the fact that none of the women in the study had been immunised against seasonal flu despite recommendations that pregnant women should be immunized."
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