First Swine Flu Death of Pregnant Woman in Mumbai

Mumbai witnesses the death of a pregnant woman due to H1N1 influenza virus at King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEM). It was the first death of a pregnant woman in a city hospital. About 5% of swine flu cases in the state were pregnant women this year. The woman was 7-months pregnant and was battling tuberculosis of the lungs. She was also diagnosed with a kidney disease during the course of the treatment and was shifted to KEM.

Dean of Dr Avinash Supe at KEM Hospital, said, “While she started responding to H1N1 medications and was even recovering, she had too many complications of kidney and had pulmonary TB.”

The premature baby could also not be saved despite an emergency caesarean operation, which was conducted to save the baby. Dr Nitin Karnik, professor of medicine at KEM hospital said, “It was a difficult case. Her baby developed foetal distress and turned inside womb and normal delivery was not possible. An emergency caesarean was done on her.”

"Pregnant women belong to the high-risk category. We recommend vaccination for them way before the flu season begins in November-December," a doctor from KEM said.

Source-Medindia