The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday said that a 32-year-old pregnant woman in Taichung died of A(H1N1) influenza on Saturday.
“To date, 10 pregnant women have died of swine flu, none of whom had received the vaccine,” CDC Spokesman Shih Wen-yi (施文儀) told a press conference yesterday afternoon.
He said the latest victim was a housewife. None of her family members had been infected, which led CDC officials to speculate that she picked up the virus in a public location.
PHOTO: CNA
Shih said she sought medical attention at a hospital on Dec. 31 last year. Her unborn baby died on Jan. 4, in the 21st week of pregnancy, but the baby was not removed because of the mother’s critical condition. On Jan. 15, the baby was stillborn and the mother died the next day.
CDC figures indicate that 878 victims of swine flu have been hospitalized and 38 have died.
Among the fatalities, 33 of them were pregnant, overweight, had cardiac problems, had diabetes or had renal problems. None of them had received the vaccine.
Shih encouraged the public to receive the vaccine and said the CDC would establish service stations at four of the nation’s international airports — Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung and Kaohsiung, where Taiwanese businesspeople based in China will be able to receive the vaccine when they come home for the Lunar New Year.
“Want to have a carefree Lunar New Year? Get the vaccine,” Shih said.
Shih said 5.5 million people had received the vaccine so far. On Monday, another 8,000 doses were administered.
Meanwhile, the CDC’s Vaccine Injury Compensation Program received about 1,000 complaints regarding possible adverse reactions to the vaccine, including about 300 complaints of alleged severe reactions.
Of the 298 alleged critical cases, 219 of the people have been released from hospital, 47 remain hospitalized, one was never hospitalized, and 31 died.
Among the 31 deaths, 29 had received Adimmune’s vaccine and two received Novartis’ vaccine.
The vaccine compensation authority has determined that at least six of the deaths were unrelated to the vaccine. Eight are under investigation by judicial authorities and 17 under investigation by the vaccine compensation authority.
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