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| Pregnancy flu advice highlighted | Pregnancy flu advice highlighted |
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| Precautions pregnant women and parents of young children can take against the swine flu virus are being highlighted by the government. | Precautions pregnant women and parents of young children can take against the swine flu virus are being highlighted by the government. |
| Expectant mothers and children under the age of five are being told they can reduce infection risk by avoiding crowded places and unnecessary travel. | Expectant mothers and children under the age of five are being told they can reduce infection risk by avoiding crowded places and unnecessary travel. |
| The Department of Health said the advice was not new but was being given greater prominence. | The Department of Health said the advice was not new but was being given greater prominence. |
| The move comes after a woman with swine flu died shortly after giving birth. | The move comes after a woman with swine flu died shortly after giving birth. |
| Ruptara Miah, 39, died in London's Whipps Cross Hospital on 13 July. Her baby is said to be very ill in intensive care. | Ruptara Miah, 39, died in London's Whipps Cross Hospital on 13 July. Her baby is said to be very ill in intensive care. |
| Another child under six months old, who died in London, is also among the latest victims of the virus. | Another child under six months old, who died in London, is also among the latest victims of the virus. |
| If you are pregnant, you are slightly more susceptible to all infections. One of them is swine flu Belinda PhippsNational Childbirth Trust | If you are pregnant, you are slightly more susceptible to all infections. One of them is swine flu Belinda PhippsNational Childbirth Trust |
| The re-issued advice, to be collated and published on the NHS website on Sunday, is based on recommendations given out by the Royal College of Midwives. | The re-issued advice, to be collated and published on the NHS website on Sunday, is based on recommendations given out by the Royal College of Midwives. |
| Health experts say because expectant mothers have suppressed immune systems, they could suffer possible complications if they contract swine flu, such as pneumonia, difficulty breathing and dehydration. Young children are also vulnerable. | Health experts say because expectant mothers have suppressed immune systems, they could suffer possible complications if they contract swine flu, such as pneumonia, difficulty breathing and dehydration. Young children are also vulnerable. |
| Pregnant women are being told to practise good hand hygiene by washing hands frequently with soap and water, and to avoid crowded places when possible. | Pregnant women are being told to practise good hand hygiene by washing hands frequently with soap and water, and to avoid crowded places when possible. |
| However, the NHS website emphasises that most expectant mothers who contract swine flu will only have mild symptoms and recover within a week. | However, the NHS website emphasises that most expectant mothers who contract swine flu will only have mild symptoms and recover within a week. |
| Deaths rising | Deaths rising |
| Belinda Phipps, chief executive of National Childbirth Trust, said that while the risks for expectant mothers were low, women needed information to make an informed decision. | Belinda Phipps, chief executive of National Childbirth Trust, said that while the risks for expectant mothers were low, women needed information to make an informed decision. |
| "If you are pregnant, you are slightly more susceptible to all infections. One of them is swine flu. | "If you are pregnant, you are slightly more susceptible to all infections. One of them is swine flu. |
| "It is important that pregnant women know that - and particularly other members of the population know that - so that they behave responsibly and if they are sick they don't go and put themselves close to a pregnant woman." | "It is important that pregnant women know that - and particularly other members of the population know that - so that they behave responsibly and if they are sick they don't go and put themselves close to a pregnant woman." |
| Twenty-nine people have now died in the UK after contracting swine flu - 26 in England and three in Scotland. | Twenty-nine people have now died in the UK after contracting swine flu - 26 in England and three in Scotland. |
| The government has warned that the number of deaths from the virus this winter in the UK could reach between 19,000 and 65,000. | The government has warned that the number of deaths from the virus this winter in the UK could reach between 19,000 and 65,000. |
| However, during the 1999 to 2000 winter, seasonal flu deaths reached 21,000 and even during average winters there are normally anywhere between 6,000 to 8,000 deaths. | However, during the 1999 to 2000 winter, seasonal flu deaths reached 21,000 and even during average winters there are normally anywhere between 6,000 to 8,000 deaths. |
| The main advice to everyone is still to practise good hygiene and wash hands regularly, the Department of Health says. | The main advice to everyone is still to practise good hygiene and wash hands regularly, the Department of Health says. |