MANILA, 17 July 2009, 1600 hrs – The risk of serious disease from Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 among pregnant women prompted fresh warnings in Australia and New Zealand that pregnant women wash their hands thoroughly after contact with other people, and seek medical care promptly if they develop flu-like symptoms.
The warnings followed the hospitalization in Australia of six pregnant women, according to media reports, who were described as being seriously ill with the virus and in intensive care units in Sydney. Dr Brian Trudlinger, head of obstetrics at Westmead Hospital in Sydney, was quoted as saying that pregnant women suffering from the virus should take antiviral drugs, but only if prescribed.
Dr Ted Weaver, the President of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said that in addition to wearing masks and washing well, women should stay home if possible though it was not necessary to isolate totally. Australia has reported more than 11 000 confirmed cases of the virus, and 24 associated deaths.
New Zealand’s Ministry of Health said pregnant women should be particularly alert for signs of the virus, as they were thought to be more vulnerable to all types of influenza, including Pandemic (H1N1) 2009. Unborn babies may also be at increased risk, it said. WHO recommends that new mothers do not stop breast-feeding even if they or the child are infected with the virus.
The Ministry urged pregnant women with influenza symptoms to contact their general practitioner, who may prescribe antiviral medication. Pregnant women, it advised, should not take antiviral medication without consulting their doctor. More than 2000 cases of the virus and 10 related deaths have been reported in New Zealand.
Several countries in the Western Pacific Region have shifted to a mitigation phase in response to Pandemic (H1N1) 2009, and are no longer testing all suspected cases nor reporting new confirmed cases daily. As a result, the actual number of infections in the Region is likely to be significantly higher than official WHO figures. Accordingly, the Western Pacific Regional Office will provide a case count only when warranted by a surge in reported cases, serious illness, or fatalities.
In Viet Nam, where 338 cases have been reported to date, the Ministry of Health predicted that cases would increase as people returned to Viet Nam from affected countries for the start of the school year. The Ministry advised people attending university and college entrance exams to practice good personal hygiene, eat and sleep well, and inform school authorities if they show influenza symptoms.
Of the 835 cases reported in Malaysia, 84% had recovered, according to local media reports quoting a senior Malaysian health official. Authorities were quoted as saying that all levels of society should take precautions to minimize infection. New cases of local transmission detected at a local university prompted health authorities to implement more active surveillance on campus and to consider closing the school if necessary, local media said.
More on Pandemic (H1N1) 2009