The media frenzy surrounding H1N1 has died down in recent months, but that doesn't mean the virus doesn't still pose a risk to certain populations. Today's Booster Shots has a round-up of what we know about H1N1 and pregnant women:
A growing body of scientific evidence has crystallized regarding how important this advice [for pregnant women to get vaccinated] is. A study published last week in the British Medical Journal found that pregnant women in Australia and New Zealand who had H1N1 were 13 times more likely to be admitted to the hospital with a critical illness compared with others who had H1N1. The study found that 11% of mothers and 12% of their babies who were admitted to an intensive care unit died.
Another study, from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Statistics, examined 2009 H1N1 cases among pregnant women in New York City last year and found the hospitalization rate was 55.3 per 100,000 people among pregnant women compared with 7.7 per 100,000 non-pregnant women.
Writer Shari Roan goes on to say that given these statistics, "it will be hard to understand if pregnant women and their doctors don’t take the threat of H1N1 even more seriously in the coming year."
Previously: H1N1 has peaked but will it return? and H1N1 flu tips for pregnant women and new moms
