Can West Nile virus be transmitted through breast milk?
A. Based on a recent 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 is healthy, and does not have symptoms of West Nile virus. Q. Should I continue breast-feeding if I am symptomatic for West Nile virus? A. Because the health benefits of breast-feeding are well established, and the risk for West Nile virus transmission through breast-feeding is unknown, the new findings do not suggest a change in breast-feeding recommendations. The American Academy of Pediatricians and the American Academy of
