PITTSBURGH, May 14, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Pregnant women and newborns are at
greatest risk in a flu epidemic, but U.S. researchers question whether there are
plans for their priority treatment.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of
Pittsburgh said the study was based on an Internet survey of the 12-member
Council of Women's and Infants' Specialty Hospitals, a national organization of
non-profits that share information and operational data to improve maternity and
newborn care.
Study author Richard Beigi said that although 56 percent of hospitals report
that they have begun to address this issue, none have any formal plan yet in
place.
"Another complicating factor is that despite the likelihood that this population
will have an increased susceptibility to influenza during a pandemic, little
data exist on the safety of vaccines and treatments to combat infectious disease
in pregnant women and newborns," Beigi said in a statement.
"The encouraging news is that 78 percent of the hospitals that responded have
formal written plans in place to address communications, a surge in patient
volume and possible degradation of non-essential medical services."
All facilities planned to provide care to their own employees despite the
potential for significant shortages of both personnel and supplies, and 56
percent of the hospitals planned to provide augmented day-care services for
employees' children.
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Copyright 2009 by United Press International