A MONMOUTHSHIRE woman with swine flu has died just weeks after giving birth.

In a statement, the Assembly Government said a 21-year-old pregnant woman, from Monmouthshire, was admitted to Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny for a planned Caesarean section on September 25.

The baby was delivered safely and is well, but the mother was taken to the hospital's intensive care unit after deteriorating.

She was later transferred to the ExtraCorporeal Membrane Oxygenation centre at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester, and died on October 9.

Assembly officials also revealed that a 43-year-old woman, from Carmarthenshire, with swine flu and with underlying health conditions, has also died.

She was admitted to Prince Phillip Hospital in Llanelli on October 3, but deteriorated and was moved to the intensive care unit where she died on October 7.

Routine test results have since confirmed she had swine flu although it was not the primary cause of death.

Wales's first swine flu-related death was on August 15 - a 55-year-old woman from Caerphilly County Borough.

The Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Dr Tony Jewell, said: "We would like to send our condolences to the family and friends of the women at this difficult time.

"Sadly as the number of swine flu cases rise, the number of people experiencing severe symptoms or complications or even death will inevitably increase. This is the same for seasonal flu in the winter.

"We should receive the swine flu vaccine in the coming weeks and, shortly after, GPs will begin administering the vaccines to those most at risk of complications and frontline health and social care workers.

"I must stress that, for the vast majority of healthy people, the infection remains mild and they should recover within five to seven days with rest, plenty of fluids and paracetamol.

"People with underlying health conditions, especially heart and lung diseases, are at most risk.

"Even in the at-risk groups - those with chronic conditions, pregnant women and children under five, and those 65 and over - most people get over the infection with no major concerns.

"If people are concerned, or if they are in these at-risk groups, they should contact their GP. Anti-virals have the most impact within 48 hours of the onset of flu-like symptoms.’’