Medical staff closely monitor H1N1-infected mother, infant

BANGKOK, July 27 (TNA) – A medical team is closely monitoring the Ratchaburi woman who prematurely delivered a baby girl after being severely infected with the Influenza type A (H1N1) virus.

The infant girl was delivered prematurely by Caesarean section at Ratchaburi hospital after the 26-year-old mother contracted the new virus and her lungs were severely infected.

The infant was infected with the potentially deadly virus, Thailand’s first clear mother to child transmission case. A clinical investigation is being conducted to determine whether the infant contracted the virus through the blood stream or from the amniotic fluid.

The infant’s condition has improved, but remains in an incubator at Ratchaburi hospital.

Public health minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said the mother is being closely monitored by doctors and medical specialists at the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.

Dr Adisorn Patradul, director of King Chulalongkorn Memorial hospital, said the mother’s condition is stable and she responds well to medicine and the respirator. The doctors found no virus in her blood, but she still has pneumonia

A sub-committee on public health and medical strategy will decide Monday afternoon if the anti-viral Oseltamivir should be prescribed for patients at clinics to allow patients with flu-like symptoms to access the medication before their condition worsens, said Mr Witthaya.

The mother went for treatment at a clinic first. After her condition worsened, she went to hospital, where she received the antiviral drug Oseltamivir.

Medical authorities in Ratchaburi on Monday reported that a second woman, seven months pregnant, has contracted Influenza type A (H1N1) in Ratchaburi. She is now in hospital and her condition has improved. (TNA)