Mother-to-be critically ill as officials urge swine flu calm

Published on Monday 20 July 2009 22:03

THE UK government moved to reassure pregnant women over swine flu yesterday, as it emerged that a mother-to-be is in a critical condition in hospital in Kilmarnock.

With an estimated 60,000 pregnant women in Scotland and 650,000 south of the Border, the Department of Health said the H1N1 virus would not pose a serious risk to anybody other than those with underlying health problems.

The mother-to-be is believed to be six months pregnant and "in a bad way". She is being treated at Crosshouse Hospital.

Reports last night suggested that there were concerns at the Kilmarnock hospital as the woman had been in contact with other pregnant women.

Concerns have been heightened about pregnant women's exposure to the virus since a 39-year-old with swine flu died last week in London shortly after giving birth prematurely.

Last month, Jacqueline Fleming, from Glasgow, became the first person in Britain to die from the virus, shortly after giving birth prematurely to her son, Jack. He died two days after his mother, but did not have swine flu.

They are the only pregnant women in the 29 deaths attributed to swine flu in the UK. But last night a Department of Health spokeswoman said: "Like the majority of people, most pregnant women with swine flu will only have mild symptoms, but there can be a risk of developing complications, so you do need to take precautions.

"As with all aspects of pregnancy, you will no doubt be careful about where you go and what you do. You may consider avoiding some very crowded places to reduce your risk of contracting swine flu, but it is important you carry on your daily routine and go to work and see friends and family."

There was also a recommendation that women with underlying health problems consult a GP before getting pregnant – although the spokeswoman insisted they were not telling women not to get pregnant.

Earlier, UK Health Secretary Andy Burnham sought to reassure pregnant women over swine flu in a statement to the Commons. He also maintained the NHS had dealt "fantastically well" with the virus.

He said the latest figures showed 55,000 new cases reported last week, with 652 in hospital, including 53 in critical care.

And he told the Commons that the National Pandemic Flu Service for England would be up and running by the end of the week, "subject to testing".

The Scottish Government has said it did not need to use the service yet because swine flu was spreading much more slowly than in England, dropping below last week's rate.

However, a row over funding vaccines is rumbling on.

Yesterday, Scottish health secretary Nicola Sturgeon warned that cuts could have to be made if the UK government did not help to pay for a vaccine. The Westminster government has refused to dip in to the Treasury's contingency fund.

She estimates it will cost 100 million to vaccinate Scotland and said the money will have to come from other budgets.

Infected UK pupils quarantined in China

EIGHT British children were being treated in hospital and a further 100 teachers and pupils quarantined in a hotel following a swine flu outbreak on a school trip to China.

The teenagers – seven from London and one from Somerset – were diagnosed with the H1N1 virus in Beijing.

Another Briton, who was not part of the trip, was also being treated and a further three children were undergoing tests, a spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said.

She added there were no reports that any of the infected pupils was seriously ill. She said the 111 pupils and teachers were being isolated in a hotel to keep the virus contained.

The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT), which took about 275 pupils and nearly 50 teachers on the trip, said it remained unclear whether the trip would continue.