Doctors will study lung samples of a 26-year-old mother who died from H1N1 flu to learn more about the virus, which poses a greater risk to pregnant women.
Deputy Public Health Minister Manit Nopamornbodee yesterday said the victim's husband had allowed the ministry to use parts of the woman's lungs for further study which would help experts come up with better treatment for flu patients.
The woman died of lung failure on Friday - a week after she gave birth to a baby girl in Ratchaburi province. The baby was confirmed as the country's first case of pre-natal H1N1 infection.
The baby has fully recovered from influenza but is still hospitalised in Ratchaburi due to premature delivery, Mr Manit said, adding that the ministry would set up a fund to help the family take care of the girl.
Details about the case were earlier sent to the World Health Organisation (WHO) for further study on mother-to-child transmission of the virus.
The WHO has warned that pregnant women are "at heightened risk" of the virus and recommended pregnant women and clinic staff be alert to symptoms of influenza-like illness.
An increased risk in pregnant women, particularly during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, has been reported in several countries.
"An increased risk of foetal death or spontaneous abortions in infected women has also been reported," the WHO said in its latest briefing released on Friday.
Health authorities and clinic staff will meet today to detail procedures and regulations regarding the prescription of the drug used to treat H1N1, oseltamivir.
The ministry will start distributing the drug free to clinics tomorrow.
The Disease Control Department will distribute the drug to clinics through provincial public health offices and district hospitals.
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