[Ara]

Swine flu mums on life support
SNIPPET from Sydney Morning Herald

Up to six new mothers infected with swine flu were on life support yesterday after giving birth prematurely because the virus was threatening their babies.

The women, all from Sydney's Western suburbs, are fighting for their lives. At least two of the babies are also in intensive care after suffering respiratory problems.

***(Resp problems are not unusual for premature babes. The article does not reference the respiratory problems as being a cause of the virus however it is implied)

Another two women were in intensive care at Westmead Hospital but were yet to give birth.

***(Seems these two women are no longer in intensive care)

Pregnancy reduces a woman's immunity

and her capacity to breathe properly because of the compression of her lungs by the foetus.

Also mentioned in this article :

A 32 year old South Australian man with a pre-existing major medical condition and a Queensland woman described as in the "vulnerable group" died yesterday after contracting swine flu.

Australian swine flu cases have exceeded 10,000 including 692 in WA. Nationally 149 are in hospital with swine flu including 58 in intensive care.

***(I wonder if any Politicians have been infected with swine flu, especially with the amount of oversees travel they do? Don't seem to be mentioned in any papers so I guess not. Anyone here in Australia hear of any pollies coming down with it?)

"Mostly the people who are being hospitalized are those with other underlying health conditions." Ms Roxon said. "We do see that there are some people who are young and otherwise healthy who have rapidly deteriorating disease".

University of WA research, using computer modelling, predicts that one in four people could contract swine flu without a broad vaccination program or anti-viral drugs.

The World Health Organisation says a Swine flu vaccine would not be available for at least two months.

***Strange how those pregnant women were all in the same area.
Ara