Pregnant women are at greater risk of developing complications from the H1N1 flu virus, said Health Minster Leone Aqlukkaq on Friday. However, they are not any more likely to get the virus than anyone else.
"Thankfully the majority of H1N1 illness in Canada is mild, but we are seeing that some people, including pregnant women, are more susceptible to serious illness and complications," said Aglukkaq in a press release.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Dr. David Butler-Jones, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, said that while pregnant women are no more likely to contract the virus, some of the pregnancy complications can include early delivery and miscarriage.
Other complications, which women have a greater chance of experiencing in their second and third trimesters of pregnancy, include pneumonia and severe respiratory distress.
The government also released guidelines on Friday for health professionals on caring for pregnant women with H1N1, as well as a factsheet for pregnant mothers about how to prevent infection and when to seek medial care.
The factsheet will be available online and distributed throughout community and health organizations used by pregnant women.
"We want to help inform pregnant women of the precautions they should take, like hand sanitizing and avoiding large crowds," said Butler-Jones.
The H1N1 flu virus has now been reported in every province and territory in Canada and appears to be spreading similarly to seasonal flu.
However, the government said that in one of the provinces, three out of the six ICU cases for H1N1 were of pregnant women.
In early June, six pregnant women in Manitoba were reportedly on ventilators because they were severely ill with the virus. And at least two pregnant women in the United States have died of H1N1 flu complications after delivering babies by C-section.
There are two different types of anti-viral medications available in Canada that can treat H1N1, Tamiflu and Relenza, and both are safe for pregnant women.
Dr. Danuta Skowronski, a flu expert with the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, told the Canadian Press last month said that some pregnant women, and even physicians, are concerned about taking the antiviral.
However, she stresses the necessity for pregnant women to take the medication immediately if they suspect H1N1 flu, even before they get testing back.
"We definitely feel like in a situation like this, the benefits outweigh the risks of giving antiviral medication," Skowronski told the Canadian Press.
It is also known at this time that younger adults don't appear to have the antibodies to fight the new H1N1 flu, and consequently, may also be at greater risk of complications.
