Deaths of 2 pregnant women blamed on H1N1

RALEIGH -- Two pregnant North Carolina women died of pandemic H1N1 flu during the week of Oct. 25, state health officials confirmed today.

A spokesman for the state Department of Health and Human Services declined to identify where the two women lived.

In addition to the two pregnant women, three other people died in North Carolina from “influenza-like illness” during the week of Oct. 25.

Up through Sept. 26, North Carolina reported only deaths and hospitalizations attributed to the H1N1 virus. On Sept. 27, the state expanded its reporting to cover hospitalizations and deaths attributed to any influenza-like illnesses, whether seasonal flu or pandemic H1N1 flu.

A total of 12 deaths and 267 hospitalizations this year, through Sept. 26, were attributed to laboratory-confirmed pandemic the H1N1 virus. Since Sept. 27, the state says 32 North Carolinians have died from influenza-related viruses, including H1N1.

The reporting change was ordered by the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide a fuller picture of the impact of flu, since the number of laboratory-confirmed pandemic H1N1 flu cases is much lower than the true number of cases.

Both pregnant women and children are considered at high-risk groups for infection by the H1N1 virus and have priority for the vaccine.

News of the deaths came as Wake County ran out of the vaccine and shut down H1N1 flu clinics Monday afternoon. County health officials say they expect to reopen the clinics when they receive additional doses.

Many physician practices and pharmacies still have the vaccine available.

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