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02/10/2009
Swine Flu Mum Treated In England
A Northern Ireland woman suffering from swine flu and who had recently given birth has been airlifted to a specialist unit in England.
The news comes just hours after the NI Department of Health said that a 'second wave' of swine flu infection (pictured) might be underway across the Province.
The unnamed woman was a patient at the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald. She gave birth to a healthy child at the hospital around ten days ago but now needs a procedure known as Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation.
This came after the woman's condition worsened, prompting the hospital to recommend the highly specialised procedure.
This involves taking over the function of the heart and lungs when they are severely damaged, adding oxygen to the blood outside the body.
The woman has been transferred to Leicester, which has the only national Ecmo unit for adults and provides these specialist services for patients across the UK.
However, it is believed the baby does not have the virus.
In other breaking news today, it has also emerged that once the swine flu vaccine becomes available later this month, special arrangements will be put in place to permit weekend clinics to administer the drug over two sessions to the higher risk group of pregnant women.
The Royal College of Midwives told BBC Radio Ulster this morning that the immune system of pregnant women is less effective than in others and they are to be accommodated with Saturday and Sunday clinics to receive the vaccine.
Meanwhile, there has been further tragedy in the Irish Republic.
Another two people have died there from swine flu, the country's Health Service Executive has announced.
A HSE spokesman revealed the news at a briefing yesterday evening.
The spokesman said one woman was from the west of the country and the other from the eastern region.
Both women are believed to have had underlying medical conditions. Their deaths bring the total number of swine flu fatalities in the Republic to four.
See: Swine Flu Claims Two Lives
See: Highest Levels Of Swine Flu Reached
(BMcC)
The news comes just hours after the NI Department of Health said that a 'second wave' of swine flu infection (pictured) might be underway across the Province.
The unnamed woman was a patient at the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald. She gave birth to a healthy child at the hospital around ten days ago but now needs a procedure known as Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation.
This came after the woman's condition worsened, prompting the hospital to recommend the highly specialised procedure.
This involves taking over the function of the heart and lungs when they are severely damaged, adding oxygen to the blood outside the body.
The woman has been transferred to Leicester, which has the only national Ecmo unit for adults and provides these specialist services for patients across the UK.
However, it is believed the baby does not have the virus.
In other breaking news today, it has also emerged that once the swine flu vaccine becomes available later this month, special arrangements will be put in place to permit weekend clinics to administer the drug over two sessions to the higher risk group of pregnant women.
The Royal College of Midwives told BBC Radio Ulster this morning that the immune system of pregnant women is less effective than in others and they are to be accommodated with Saturday and Sunday clinics to receive the vaccine.
Meanwhile, there has been further tragedy in the Irish Republic.
Another two people have died there from swine flu, the country's Health Service Executive has announced.
A HSE spokesman revealed the news at a briefing yesterday evening.
The spokesman said one woman was from the west of the country and the other from the eastern region.
Both women are believed to have had underlying medical conditions. Their deaths bring the total number of swine flu fatalities in the Republic to four.
See: Swine Flu Claims Two Lives
See: Highest Levels Of Swine Flu Reached
(BMcC)
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:A mostly dry evening and night with a widespread frost developing along with freezing fog, which could become extensive, especially in the south. Winds remaining light. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
