Detectable Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Human Breast Milk of a Mildly Symptomatic Patient With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus and causative pathogen to the pandemic illness COVID-19. Although RNA has been detected in various clinical samples, no reports to date have documented SARS-CoV-2 in human milk. This case report describes an actively breastfeeding patient with COVID-19 infection with detectable viral RNA in human milk.</jats:p>

Holder Pasteurization Inactivates SARS-CoV-2 in Human Breast Milk

“…As initial reports failed to detect the presence of viral RNA in milk samples of infected mothers 12,13 , the risk of transmission via breastfeeding was deemed to be very low. Recent reports, however, demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be detected in breast milk samples after virus infection, associated with at least one newborn with severe respiratory disease 1–5 . These findings raise the concern of safety during breastfeeding and a possible alternative or additional way of virus transmission to the infant.…”

“…The current coronavirus pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), raises unprecedented questions regarding virus transmission and risks for pregnant or breastfeeding women. We and others recently described that SARS-CoV-2 is detectable in breast milk of infected mothers 1–5 and found viral RNA in single or multiple breast milk samples of mothers suffering from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In two cases where the mother continued breastfeeding, the newborns were also tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and one infant developed severe respiratory disease 1,5 .…”

“…We and others recently described that SARS-CoV-2 is detectable in breast milk of infected mothers 1–5 and found viral RNA in single or multiple breast milk samples of mothers suffering from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In two cases where the mother continued breastfeeding, the newborns were also tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and one infant developed severe respiratory disease 1,5 . However, the origin of the infections of the newborns remained unclear and raises concerns of possible virus transmission via breast milk.…”

Attitude and perceptions towards&nbsp;COVID-19 among pregnant women in Singapore: A cross-sectional survey

“…There is also limited data to guide the postnatal management of babies of mothers who tested positive for COVID-19 in the third trimester of pregnancy. Currently, possibility of infection from breast milk remain uncertain although there is recent evidence to suggest a small risk of transmission through breast feeding [37][38][39]. As breast feeding requires close contact, direct breast feeding may be of concern in infected mothers.…”

Lung ultrasound and neonatal COVID-19 pneumonia: A case report.

“…Additionally, Vivanti and colleagues demonstrated a case of transplacental transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from a pregnant woman affected during late pregnancy with her offspring being positive and showing gliosis of the deep white periventricular and subcortical matter8 . SARS-CoV-2 RNA have been found in milk samples9,10 .…”