Post-pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 virus infection in pregnant women in Ceará, Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to present results of the post-pandemic phase of A(H1N1)pdm09 virus infection in pregnant women in Ceará, Brazil, during the January-June 2012 influenza season.


RESULTS
One hundred and fifty-four nasopharyngeal swab samples were collected from pregnant women admitted to hospitals with suspected severe acute respiratory infection (SARI). Fifty-three (34·4%) had laboratory-confirmed A(H1N1)pdm09 virus infection with 15 (28·3%) outpatients and 38 (71·7%) hospitalized. Five (9·4%) women were in the first trimester of pregnancy, 20 (37·7%) in the second trimester of pregnancy, and 24 (45·2%) in the third trimester of pregnancy. Three had no information about the time of pregnancy. Six samples from newborns were also analyzed, of which three were nasopharyngeal swab positive for A(H1N1)pdm09. These swabs were collected immediately after birth, with the exception of one that was collected on the day after birth.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that transplacental transfer of influenza viruses could occur as a result of severe illness in pregnancy. It is therefore important to encourage women to be vaccinated against influenza in order to avoid pregnancy complications.
Central Public Health Laboratory of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil.|Northeast Biotechnology Network, State University of Ceara, Fortaleza, Brazil.|Christus University Center, Unichristus, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
Anne C B
ACB
Perdigão
Central Public Health Laboratory of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil.|State Health Secretariat of Ceará, Ceará, Brazil.
Fernanda M C
FMC
Araújo
Central Public Health Laboratory of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil.|State Health Secretariat of Ceará, Ceará, Brazil.
Maria E L
MEL
Melo
Christus University Center, Unichristus, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.|State Health Secretariat of Ceará, Ceará, Brazil.
Daniele R Q
DRQ
Lemos
University Federal of Ceara, Ceará, Brazil.
Luciano P
LP
Cavalcanti
Central Public Health Laboratory of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil.|Northeast Biotechnology Network, State University of Ceara, Fortaleza, Brazil.|State Health Secretariat of Ceará, Ceará, Brazil.
Izabel L C
ILC
Ramalho
University of Fortaleza - UNIFOR, Ceará, Brazil.
Lia C
LC
Araújo
Christus University Center, Unichristus, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
Deborah M
DM
Sousa
Oswaldo Cruz Institute/IOC/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Marilda M
MM
Siqueira
Northeast Biotechnology Network, State University of Ceara, Fortaleza, Brazil.
Maria I F
MIF
Guedes
Placental transmission; post-pandemic influenza A; pregnant