28/10/2009

Swine Flu Mum Battles For Life

As fresh funding was this week pumped into the fight against swine flu, it has emerged that a new mum from Co Fermanagh was initially left critically ill after contracting the virus.

The unnamed 36-year-old gave birth to a healthy baby boy on October 16th in the Erne Hospital only to fall ill herself days later.

She was initially moved to Craigavon Area Hospital but has now been flown to the Royal Brompton Hospital in London where her condition is now said to be stable.

The ill mum is in an induced coma after a special medical team flew into Aldergrove to take over her care on the London-bound flight.

According to her local newspaper, the Fermanagh Herald, the Royal Brompton said: "Her condition is stable, and she is receiving the specialist care she needs."

The London hospital is at the heart of specialised treatment for those patients left seriously ill with complications related to swine flu.

It is believed that the hospital includes a sophisticated artificial lung machine, which is used to help severely ill swine flu patients beat the illness.

See: Flu Funding Halts Bed Cut-Backs

(BMcC/KMcA)

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