The Centre for Health Protection is investigating another case of intrauterine death involving a 33-year-old woman at 37 weeks of gestation. She is in stable condition at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

On January 19 she reported decreased foetal movement and was referred to the hospital where intrauterine death was confirmed. Gestational diabetes mellitus was also diagnosed.

She received a human swine flu vaccination at a Maternal & Child Health Centre on December 27. Investigations for common causes of foetal death, including infection, genetic and metabolic disorders, are being conducted.

The centre said there is no evidence yet suggesting the death was related to the vaccination.

The World Health Organisation says studies to date do not show harmful effects from the vaccine on pregnancy or a developing embryo or foetus. The chances of human swine flu infected pregnant women requiring hospitalisation in intensive care units are 10 times higher than those of infected people in the general population and the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks, the centre said.

Cases of foetal death following human swine flu vaccination have also been recorded and monitored overseas, and so far no relationship has been found between the vaccination and foetal death.

The centre will closely monitor the situation.