INCE APRIL 17, 2009, WHEN THE first 2 cases of pandemic influenza A(H1N1) virus infection were reported in California, the virus has rapidly spread throughout the world. 1 On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization raised the pandemic alert level to phase 6, indicating that a global pandemic had begun. 2 Although initial reports suggested that illness associated with pandemic 2009 influenza A(H1N1) infection may be mild compared with the 1918 influenza pandemic, data on the clinical features and populations at risk of complications from pandemic 2009 influenza A(H1N1) infection are still emerging. In the United

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2009 H1N1 influenza can cause severe illness and death in pregnant and postpartum women; regardless of the results of rapid antigen testing, prompt evaluation and antiviral treatment of influenza-like illness should be considered in such women. The high cause-specific maternal mortality rate suggests that 2009 H1N1 influenza may increase the 2009 maternal mortality ratio in the United States.

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