China's Ministry of Health Wednesday issued a guide to help prevent pregnant women and women with young children from getting the A/H1N1 flu.

The guide provides information about how the women can protect themselves against the influenza virus and tips on what to do if they or their children get infected.

The guide was available on the ministry's official website and the print edition would be distributed to medical and health institutions around the country.

Pregnant women are listed as one of the groups most susceptible to the A/H1N1 influenza virus.

About 13.7 percent of the deaths from the A/H1N1 influenza on the Chinese mainland were pregnant women, according to statistics released by the ministry earlier this month.

Bian Xuming, director of maternity department with Peking Union Medical College Hospital, said that pregnant women have a low immunity to the virus as their organs already are under much strain.

"Once they catch the flu, the illness will spread rapidly and they will be in more danger. That's why prevention is very important," Bian said.

(Xinhua News Agency December 31, 2009)