The information is based on data collected and analysed by the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) specifically looking at the impact of the N1H1 influenza on pregnant women.
Dr Denise Jamieson, lead author of the study has urged pregnant women who appear to have symptoms of N1H1 to seek medical assistance immediately.
“The death of a pregnant woman is always heartbreaking, and unfortunately we have been hearing reports of otherwise healthy women dying from H1N1. If a pregnant woman feels like she may have influenza, she needs to call her healthcare provider right away,’ said Dr Jamieson.
Dr Jamieson urged clinicians treating pregnant women to track women with influenza-like symptoms and to not delay enrolling them on appropriate antiviral therapy because of fears for the developing foetus.
‘It is critical that pregnant women in particular be treated promptly,’ she said.
CDC received reports of six deaths of pregnant women infected with N1H1 between April 15 and June 16 this year, representing 13% of 45 deaths reported to CDC during that period.
The report says the women who complained of mild viral pneumonia leading to acute respiratory complications eventually requiring mechanical ventilation were healthy before infection with the influenza.
Women who died did not receive antiviral treatment swiftly enough to benefit from it. Past influenza pandemics and seasonal influenza have demonstrated that pregnant women have increased rates of illness and death from influenza.
Click on link to see clinical guidance posted by CDC on treatment and prophylaxis of pregnant women suspected or confirmed to have N1H1 influenza. http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/clinician_pregnant.htm
