Source: http://www.starnewsonline.com/articl...-of-H1N1-virus

Baby delivered before pregnant Brunswick County woman died of H1N1 virus

By Vicky Eckenrode
Vicky.Eckenrode@StarNewsOnline.com

Published: Friday, October 23, 2009 at 1:27 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, October 23, 2009 at 1:27 p.m.

A Brunswick County woman died this week from complications of the H1N1 virus, public health officials said Friday.

The woman, who was pregnant, died Tuesday at Duke Medical Center, Brunswick County Deputy Health Director Fred Michael said.

?She had been sick for about a month and a half,? he said.

Michael said the woman went to Brunswick Community Hospital?s emergency department where she tested positive for the virus. She was transferred to New Hanover Regional Medical Center when her condition worsened.

The woman was moved to Duke, where her baby was delivered at 30 weeks before she died, Michael said.

New Hanover County public health officials said they have not had any reports of deaths associated with the virus.

Statewide, nearly 900 people have been hospitalized for flu-like illness or lab-confirmed H1N1 virus since the swine flu began circulating in the spring. Thirty people have died, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services most recent report Wednesday.

Michael and officials at other local health departments have been emphasizing the H1N1 vaccine for area pregnant women even as supplies for the shots have rolled out slower than expected nationwide.

Brunswick County?s health department has received 900 doses of the H1N1 vaccine, either in nasal spray form or injectable shots.

Nearly all the doses have been given out.

The department has waiting list of about 500 people, and nurses are calling those who are in the highest-risk groups, including pregnant women and those with medical conditions, to get the vaccines as the weekly shipments come in.

Private providers are receiving the vaccines as well, though in limited supplies like the health departments.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials said last week production of the vaccines has been slower than they originally expected.

Check back for more on this developing story.

Vicky Eckenrode: 343-2339

On Twitter.com: @vickyeckenrode