Lab discovers swine flu link to pregnancy

Laboratory researchers have discovered a link between serious illnesses in pregnant women and swine flu.

Scientists in Australia and New Zealand monitored hospital admissions to intensive care units (ICU) between June, July and August in 2009.

According to their work, published on the BMJ website, one-third of admitted females who were expecting a baby had swine flu and 11 per cent of these later died.

Dr Ian Seppelt, lead author of the study, said that although this death rate seems low, "a maternal mortality of 11 per cent is high when compared with any other obstetric condition".

According to the results, expectant mothers who were more than 20 weeks into their term were 13 times more likely to be taken to an ICU than those who had the H1N1 virus and were not pregnant.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulator Agency UK recently warned pregnant women to avoid consuming Prozac as it could lead to congenital heart defects in their child.