On August 15, 2009, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced the first severe case of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) in a pregnant woman in Taiwan.The case is a 25-year-old pregnant woman who is 24 weeks pregnant and resides in southern Taiwan. On August 9, 2009, the case developed cough.On the following day, the case developed fever and was rushed to the emergency department at a hospital.On August 13, 2009, when the case developed bilateral pneumonia, the case was immediately reported and specimen was collected from the case.Pandemic influenza A (H1N1) infection was then confirmed in the case. Currently, the case is still receiving treatment at the intensive care ward.

The World Health Organization has earlier stated that pregnant women are at increased risk of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) infection and should top pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccination priority list.According to the overseas disease surveillance data, pregnancy raises risk for complications associated with influenza.Further, pregnancy might accelerate the course of the disease and result in secondary bacterial infection such as pneumonia.

Hence, CECCC urged pregnant women to avoid visiting crowded places when there are community outbreaks and to pay attention to their own health and seek medical attention immediately when they develop influenza-like symptoms such as cough and fever. In addition, CECC reminded all the physicians in the nation, especially gynecologists, to pay more attention to the development of the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 and to promptly administer treatments to pregnant women with influenza-like symptoms.

On the other hand, CECC has been working with the Taiwan Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology to formulate the treatment guidelines for pregnant women with pandemic influenza A (H1N1) infection, which will be available on the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control website as a reference when it is completed.