EXCLUSIVE: Swine flu mother has baby then dies

Swine flu deaths has more than doubled in the past week to 29 in the UK
12 April 2012

A pregnant woman seriously ill with swine flu gave birth to her baby before dying, the Evening Standard can reveal.

Another baby under the age of six months has also died with the illness in London, as well as a six-year-old boy from Kent who is believed to have been otherwise healthy.

It comes after health bosses announced the number of swine flu deaths has more than doubled in the past week to 29, and said there could be as many as 65,000 deaths during the outbreak.

A national flu telephone helpline planned for the autumn has been rushed forward, but there are concerns that patients who don't see a doctor face-to-face will be unable to claim on insurance for holidays they are forced to cancel.

The 39-year-old pregnant woman, who died at Whipps Cross hospital on Monday, is one of four new swine flu victims in London, taking the total to 10. Her baby, who was born extremely prematurely, is fighting for life in intensive care.

She is thought to have been left paraplegic after a car crash a number of years ago. Relatives of the woman, who is thought to be originally from Bangladesh, are said to be looking after her five other children.

London is experiencing epidemic levels of swine flu and is the worst-hit area in the country. The youngest victim is a baby who died at the Royal Free Hospital last week, who was under six months. The other latest cases include a 70-year-old man who died at the Royal London Hospital on Tuesday and another adult patient who died at St Thomas' last Friday. All had serious underlying health conditions but tested positive for swine flu.

Dr Simon Tanner, regional director of public health at NHS London, said: "We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to each of the families affected. It is also important that these deaths be kept in perspective.

"All four had underlying health conditions and these upsetting cases should be kept in context with the many people who have had swine flu and recovered just a few days after experiencing a mild illness."

Another three deaths are being investigated to determine whether they too had the virus.

The news comes as Sherwin Knight infant school in Kent closed after the death of the "healthy" six-year-old boy on Wednesday.

A teacher at the school said she was off work with the bug herself. She said: "I've been off with swine flu for the past week and I know there were several pupils at the infant school who had swine flu."

Speaking after the announcement of the new London deaths, Andy Wapling, head of emergency preparedness at NHS London, said: "We would like to reassure people that NHS London is well-prepared. NHS London has put in place recently audited plans on how to prepare for flu pandemic and ensure that anyone who needs help will receive it."

The Government's chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson said 26 people have died in England and three in Scotland since the epidemic began.

One of the Scottish deaths was a female tourist with "significant underlying medical conditions". She had been in hospital for three weeks.

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