A 23-year-old pregnant woman from Krakow has been hospitalized after contracting the A/H1N1 virus, otherwise known as ‘swine flu’.

The condition of the woman, who was admitted to the intensive care ward at the hospital, is being described as “serious”.

The patient contracted the swine flu virus while pregnant and the baby had to be delivered through caesarean section at 27 weeks of pregnancy.

“The baby boy is under close observation but is not an A/H1N1 carrier,” says Rafal Nizankowski from the regional health inspectorate.

Life of the 23-year-old woman is still in danger, however.

“She has been put under an induced coma and all we can do now is wait,” says Wieslaw Krolikowski from the Collegium Medicum hospital.

Last year, Poland was one of the few European countries which refused to order a stockpile of swine flu vaccines and after over 170 deaths were recorded the government cane under pressure, only to be praised for the decision later in the year.

Health Minister Ewa Kopacz said at the time that “We don't want to be seen as a country which opposes vaccines, we want to protect our citizens but not under the conditions set by the pharmaceutical companies."

This year the World Health Organisation has noted that the number of swine flu cases is low in Europe, with most patients being admitted to hospitals in the UK, where 738 cases have been recorded. (mg/pg)

Source: PAP