Postpandemic influenza A/H1N1pdm09 is still causing severe perinatal complications

Abstract

Although influenza A/H1N1pdm09 is not causing a pandemic anymore, we recently observed two critically ill pregnant women infected by this virus. We present these cases to illustrate the possible severe complications of an – at that moment – seasonal influenza in pregnancy. We discuss the epidemiological differences between the pandemic and postpandemic phase and try to explain the high virulence of H1N1-infections in pregnancy by discussing insights in immunology during pregnancy. We conclude that although the influenza A/H1N1pdm09 is in the postpandemic phase, infection by this influenza virus still needs to be considered in pregnant women with progressive respiratory dysfunction.

Keywords

• Critical Care
• Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype
• Infection
• Pandemics
• Pregnancy