Pregnant Woman Dies After Battling Flu

The woman suffered from the flu for the past two weeks

A suburban pregnant woman and her unborn child died after the woman suffered from the flu for the past two weeks, Hickory Hills police said.

Margaret Jefferson passed away Thursday morning at Palos Community Hospital in Palos Heights, Lt. Tim Stevens said. The baby was pronounced dead that afternoon.

Stevens said no foul play was suspected and it was believed Jefferson died from pulmonary embolism. The Medical Examiner's office was investigating.

"Pregnant women are certainly high risk for developing severe flu. It's one of the reasons it's important for all pregnant women to receive the vacccine," said Rush University Medical Center infectious disease specialist Dr. Michael Lin.

The Illinois Department of Public Health said that as of last week almost 150 people were admitted to intensive care units with the flu and six have died.

The Centers for Disease Control's reported that during the week of Dec. 30, the flu outbreak spread to 47 states, up from 41 the previous week.

Illinois is among the states reporting widespread flu activity.
 

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