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Article: Flu Among Young Pregnant Women Raises
- Article from:
- AP Online
- Article date:
- December 11, 2003
- Author:
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LIZ AUSTIN, Associated Press Writer
AP Online
12-11-2003
Dateline: DALLAS
Flu cases among young pregnant women surged at a large public hospital, calling attention to yet another group at serious risk of the flu.
About 80 expectant mothers have been diagnosed with the flu since early October, said Dr. Jeanne Sheffield, a maternal and fetal medicine specialist at Parkland Health and Hospital System. More than 60 were admitted, with one treated in the intensive care unit, she said.
Pregnancy weakens a woman's immune system, making her more vulnerable to the virus. Only two of the women had the flu shot, and they had it just before they became ill, so they were not protected.
But Sheffield said ...