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Pregnant Woman Dies From The Flu
Health officials recommend pregnant women get the flu shot (Photo by Image Point Fr via Shutterstock)
A pregnant woman in the South Bay—along with her unborn child—died after coming down with the flu.
County health officials announced that they received a report that the woman died after getting the H1N1 strain of the flu (aka "swine flu"). They didn't release any other details about this case.
But pregnant and postpartum women are more likely to get really sick when they get the flu. The county's health director Jonathan Fielding released a statement encouraging pregnant women to get a flu shot to protect themselves; though flu season is waning, it's expected to continue through March:
"This sad event demonstrates that serious complications can occur with flu infection in pregnant women. Therefore, it is critical that all pregnant and postpartum women get vaccinated to protect themselves against the flu. We recommend that everyone, six months of age or older, receive either the influenza shot or the nasal spray vaccine and to practice basic hygiene, such as hand washing and covering coughs and sneezes, to prevent the spread of influenza and other respiratory diseases."
So far 52 people altogether have died of the flu in Los Angeles County. This particular strain of the swine flu has hit young and middle-aged people hard. You can still get a flu shot, and they're also recommended for young children, the elderly, anyone with underlying health issues or the people who work with them. People who are obese seem to be getting hit hard by this strain, too. You can look up places to get flu shots here or call 2-1-1 to reach the county information line.
Related:
147 People Died From The Flu In California This Season
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