Catching swine flu is often life-threatening or fatal for pregnant women and their babies, an Australian study has confirmed ahead of the imminent flu season.

ATLANTA -- Last fall, as swine flu cases mounted and parents desperately sought to protect their kids, the hard-to-get vaccine was handed out in some surprising places: the Royal Caribbean cruise line, the headquarters of drug giant Merck, the Johnson Space Center and a Department of Energy office in Idaho.

ATLANTA — Last fall, as swine flu cases mounted and parents desperately sought to protect their kids, the hard-to-get vaccine was handed out in some surprising places: the Royal Caribbean cruise line, the headquarters of drug giant Merck, the Johnson Space Center and a Department of Energy

Pregnant women in Australia and New Zealand who had swine flu were 13 times more likely to be admitted to hospital with a critical illness, according to research published on bmj.com today.

Pregnant women may be far more at risk from swine flu than thought, according to a survey published on Friday that was carried out in Australia and New Zealand.

FOOTBALL fans heading to the World Cup in South Africa are urged to have the swine flu jab.

Pregnant women in Australia and New Zealand who had swine flu were 13 times more likely to be admitted to hospital with a critical illness, according to research published in the British Medical Journal today.

THURSDAY, March 18 (HealthDay News) -- Pregnant women with the H1N1 (swine) flu were 13 times more likely to become critically ill than non-pregnant women infected with H1N1, according to a report from researchers in Australia and New Zealand.

They were one in high demand but now there is so much of the swine flu vaccine that health departments across the country are throwing them away...

Health officials faced with meager supplies of swine flu vaccine last fall sent doses to some surprising places.