Are infants at higher risk than other groups for illness with West Nile virus?
A. No. West Nile virus illnesses in children younger than 1 year old are infrequent. During 1999-2001, no cases in children younger than one year of age were reported to CDC. Of the over 2500 total West Nile Virus cases in 2002, only four were less than one year of age. We know that one of these infants was not breast-feeding, and investigation of the other infants is underway. Q. If I am breast-feeding, should I use insect repellent containing DEET? A. Yes. Insect repellents help people reduce their exposure to mosquito bites that may carry potentially serious viruses such as West Nile virus, and allow them to continue to play and work outdoors. There are no reported adverse events following use of repellents containing DEET in pregnant or breast-feeding women. Click here for more information about using repellents safely.
A. No. West Nile virus illnesses in children younger than 1 year old are infrequent. Since 1999 only 18 of the 15,401 cases reported to CDC were in children younger than one year of age. Breastfeeding Q. Can West Nile virus be transmitted through breast milk? A. Based on a 2002 case in Michigan, it appears that West Nile virus can be transmitted through breast milk. A new mother in Michigan contracted West Nile virus from a blood transfusion shortly after giving birth. Laboratory analysis showed evidence of West Nile virus in her breast milk. She breastfed her infant, and three weeks later, her baby’s blood tested positive for West Nile virus. Because of the infant’s minimal outdoor exposure, it is unlikely that infection was acquired from a mosquito. The infant was most likely infected through breast milk. The child was healthy, and did not have symptoms of West Nile virus infection. Q. If I am pregnant or breastfeeding, should I use insect repellents containing DEET or picaridin? A.
A. No. West Nile virus illnesses in children younger than 1-year-old are infrequent. During 1999-2001, no cases in children younger than one year of age were reported to CDC. Of the over 2500 total West Nile Virus cases in 2002, only four were less than one year of age. We know that one of these infants was not breast-feeding, and investigation of the other infants is underway. Q. If I am breast-feeding, should I use insect repellent containing DEET? A. Yes. Insect repellents help people reduce their exposure to mosquito bites that may carry potentially serious viruses such as West Nile virus, and allow them to continue to play and work outdoors. There are no reported adverse events following use of repellents containing DEET in pregnant or breast-feeding women. For additional information regarding WNV, please see http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/ Questions can be directed to CDC Public Information at 1-888-246-2675 (English), 1-888-246-2857 (Spanish), and 1-866- 874-2646 (TTY)
A. No. West Nile virus illnesses in children younger than 1-year-old are infrequent. During 1999-2001, no cases in children younger than one year of age were reported to CDC. Of the over 2500 total West Nile Virus cases in 2002, only four were less than one year of age. We know that one of these infants was not breast-feeding, and investigation of the other infants is underway. Q. If I am breast-feeding, should I use insect repellent containing DEET? A. Yes. Insect repellents help people reduce their exposure to mosquito bites that may carry potentially serious viruses such as West Nile virus, and allow them to continue to play and work outdoors. There are no reported adverse events following use of repellents containing DEET in pregnant or breast-feeding women. For additional information regarding WNV, please see http://www.cdc.gov Questions can be directed to CDC Public Information at 1-888-246-2675 (English), 1-888-246-2857 (Spanish), and 1-866- 874-2646 (TTY). For the full publishe
A. No. West Nile virus illnesses in children younger than 1-year-old are infrequent. During 1999-2001, no cases in children younger than one year of age were reported to CDC. Of the over 2500 total West Nile Virus cases in 2002, only four were less than one year of age. We know that one of these infants was not breast-feeding, and investigation of the other infants is underway.
