150 pregnant mothers test positive for virus

ABOUT 150 expectant mothers were tested positive for COVID-19 in Fiji from June this year to last Saturday, says Fiji Emergency Medical Assistance Team (FEMAT) Field Hospital obstetrics and gynecologist Dr Viliame Nasila.

He highlighted this issue during the Vanua o Ca’audrove virtual discussion on COVID.

He said expectant mothers tested positive for the virus were treated at the Makoi Maternity Ward, adding they had yet to record a death from these positive cases.

“Pregnancy and those with comorbidities were more vulnerable to contracting the severity of the virus,” he said.

“It was why vaccination was highly recommended for expectant mothers.”

He said FEMAT recorded serious cases of COVID in pregnant mothers and were treated while being observed in isolation.

Considering the vulnerability of expectant mothers to the severity of the virus, Dr Nasila said their operations were focused on protecting them and treating symptoms early to avoid deterioration of conditions.

Referring to overseas research, Dr Nasila said it had indicated that COVID could cause miscarriages in mothers leading to death.

“Expectant mothers are more vulnerable to miscarriages during the first five months of the pregnancy period if they contracted the virus.

“Other effects in expectant mothers include pre-term delivery or early delivery of babies affecting them greatly as they may not have fully developed.”