Pregnant woman in Ohio dies of swine flu

COLUMBUS (AP) — Health officials in Ohio say a 20-year-old pregnant woman has died of swine flu.

The woman’s baby was delivered prior to her death today at a Columbus hospital, and officials say the baby is doing well. No other details about the woman were released.

Ohio Health Department spokesman Kristopher Weiss says pregnant women who get any type of flu are at risk for serious complications.

A vaccine to protect against swine flu is expected to be available this fall.

Today’s death is the third swine flu death in the state. Two others were reported in June — a man who died in Butler County and a woman who died in Cuyahoga County.

Through Aug. 27, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta reported 556 swine flu deaths in the U.S. and 8,800 hospitalizations.