The H1N1 flu virus as seen under an electron microscope. (U.S. Centers for Disease Control)

Expectant schoolteachers in Vancouver are being cautioned to take extra care when they head back to class on Tuesday after a young Montreal woman died of complications from swine flu after giving birth.

Sascha Schick, a teacher at False Creek Elementary School in downtown Vancouver, says she can't wait to see her Grade 1 students after a summer away. But Schick is eight months pregnant, and is in a bit of a panic about how she will handle any possible cases of swine flu in her classroom.

"Right now, if you have a little boy or girl comes in not looking so well, instead of nurturing them, you're going to want to step 10 feet back," Schick said.

"Even if the odds of it happening to you are so, so slim, you still feel like if you don't take every precaution then you're putting yourself at risk," she said.

Pregnant teachers a priority

At any given time, there are about 250 pregnant staff at city schools and their needs are a priority, according to Vancouver School Board vice-chair Jane Bouey.

That's why the board will be briefing its principals and vice principals on Thursday on its plan to deal with the H1N1 virus, in the schools.

The new swine-flu strategy is based on recommendations from Dr. Perry Kendall, B.C.'s chief health officer, that include sending sick children home from school immediately, and more stringent rules around cleanliness in the classroom.

The strategy will also include guidelines on how to help pregnant teachers manage in what health officials say could be a high-risk environment.

In Quebec. two school boards have already said they plan to keep pregnant teachers out of class because of the risk associated with the swine flu, following the death of the Montreal woman.

No greater risk of infection: expert

But Dr. Deborah Money, executive director of the Women's Health Research Institute at B.C. Women's Hospital, said pregnant teachers need not worry about going to work.

"We haven't seen that pregnant women are more likely to acquire this infection," said Money.

"It's just that if they get it, they're more likely to develop complications — and generally speaking pregnant women in health-care settings or professional school settings are not substantively more at risk of respiratory illness than other people in the community," she said.

"In fact, just being a mother and having young children is probably the highest risk."

Pregnant women can keep safe by maintaining proper hygiene, staying in good health, having a plan with their physicians should any symptoms emerge and getting vaccinated, said Money.

So far, at least four people in B.C. have died from the swine flu. All four had underlying health issues, officials said.