Pregnant Women in UK Being Urged To Stay Away From Crowds and Airports Due to Swine Flu

July 19, 2009 by tiffanyb
Filed under: News

The government is advising pregnant women and parents with babies to avoid unnecessary crowds, public transport, and airports until swine flu is under control.

The government will be publishing guidelines on the NHS website telling pregnant women and parents with babies and young children to avoid unnecessary crowded places such as public transport and airports. This is all due to recommendations from Royal College of Midwives and other health experts who want people to be aware of the situation with swine flu.

Concerns of the swine flu and it’s effects on pregnant women reached a new height when Ruptara Miah, 39, died from the swine flu in the hospital. Her baby is said to be still in the intensive care and is quite ill.

The total number of deaths linked to the swine flu in the UK is 29.

These guidelines come after the National Childbirth Trust was accused of telling women to delay getting pregnant until the swine flu was controlled or gone. A spokesperson for the NCH denied these allegations and said that they never advised women to delay conceiving because of the swine flu.

The spokesperson said, “Swine flu is so far proving to be mild for the majority of people although for a small number it has been severe. We advise everybody to plan their pregnancy carefully - we are not advising women not to conceive. Mums-to-be are more vulnerable to any type of flu. It is particularly important that anyone who has existing health problems and is thinking about starting a family should talk to their GP first, as they normally would.”

Pregnant women are more susceptible to the swine flu because their immune systems are suppressed. They are more likely to suffer medical complications like pneumonia and dehydration if the contract the swine flu.

Other people who are more susceptible to swine flu are the elderly over 65 and children under 5.

The government has also issued a warning to British holidaymakers telling them not to travel if they have the swine flu or any symptoms of the swine flu. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic announced it would not allow suspected swine flu sufferers to board their planes.