First A(H1N1) pregnancy death reported in Nakhon Ratchasima

NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Aug 20 (TNA) – Thailand’s northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima on Thursday recorded its first fatality from Influenza Type A(H1N1) in a pregnant woman, while six other patients remain under close medical surveillance with critical condition.

The Ministry of Public Health on Wednesday confirmed 14 new Influenza Type A (H1N1) fatalities from August 9-15, raising the country’s official total death toll to 111.

Dr Kawee Chaisiri, director of Maharaj Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital, said the 37-year old pregnant woman had contracted the A(H1N1) virus and had been under treatment at the hospital for about two weeks.

She died Wednesday afternoon, Dr Kawee said, adding that she was the first pregnant woman in the province who died of the new A(H1N1) virus.

The hospital director said the medical team was able to save the woman’s premature infant by caesarean section delivery, but that the 28-week baby weighs only 1,300 grammes and must remain in an incubator under close medical surveillance.

Dr Kawee said that laboratory test result confirmed the baby has not contracted the A(H1N1) from the mother.

The doctor added that six A(H1N1) patients remain in care in the hospital in critical condition, among them a 23-year-old woman who is 24-weeks pregnant.

Meanwhile, Dr Vichai Chokewiwat, chairman of the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO), said on Thursday that health-concerned Thai agencies will meet via teleconference with World Health Organization (WHO) specialists about A(H1N1) vaccine production in the kingdom Thursday night.

Dr Vichai said that the Thai officials earlier reported to WHO regarding technical problems and obstacles of vaccine production here and will follow recommendations of the WHO for the next process of vaccine production.

The GPO is worried that the amount of virus cultured and grown in hen eggs imported from Germany provided lower yields than earlier targeted, and that may delay the clinical trials scheduled for September 4. (TNA)