Baby struggles to stay alive after mum dies of swine flu

The baby of a pregnant London woman is fighting for survival after the mother who was seriously ill with swine flu gave birth prematurely just before she died. A six month-old baby and two adults have also died of the virus in London. These four deaths in the capital are among 29 deaths linked to the H1N1 virus in Britain, according to figures out today. But 65,000 people could die in the first wave of the pandemic, the government predicts. The news came as the government said some schools could stay closed when the Autumn term is due to start in September if swine flu gets worse over the summer.Today, schools up and down the UK start breaking up for the summer holidays. At the moment, schools and nurseries are expected to reopen as usual in September. But that may change, said the department for children, schools and families (DCSF.

The pregnant woman, who died in hospital on Monday, brings the number of people in London who have died from the virus to ten. Her premature baby is fighting for life in intensive care. Her family, thought to be from Bangladesh, are looking after her five other children. Pregnant women could be at high risk of swine flu infection especially in the third trimester — weeks 28 to 40 — of pregnancy. It is suggested also that flu infection is likely to be worse and last longer in pregnant women. Because of these factors, The National Childbirth Trust has given out guidelines about swine flue for pregnant women. So far 26 people have died in England and three in Scotland since the epidemic began, said the chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson. A national flu telephone helpline to help sufferers access antiviral medications without a prescription has been brought forward.

So far, flu-like illness is mainly being reported in children aged 5 to 14, and about 1,000 schools have recorded cases of swine flu. But decisions on any future school closures would be based on the best advice available shortly before the start of term, the government said. Schools will be told in the last week of August what to do at the start of term. The department’s message said: “As the summer term is drawing to an end, it is important to ensure that everyone will be in a position to know what will happen at the start of the autumn term. “We expect that schools and early-years and childcare settings will reopen as usual, but at this time we cannot be certain what the situation will be then; we will need to monitor developments over the summer, and take decisions based on the best advice available shortly before the start of term.”

By Hayley Jarvis for SOS Children