Can breastfeeding result in the transmission of Covid-19 in newborns?

Husna, Amity University Kolkata

With the wake of Covid-19 pandemic, certain fundamental yet important questions come into the mind of various people. One such question is, “Can breastfeeding lead to the transmission of the coronavirus from a mother to her newborn?” 

The transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection from a mother to her child during the pregnancy is known as vertical transmission. This transmission can happen either during the final stages of pregnancy or right after delivering the baby.

Scientists have analysed a total of 176 reported cases of SARS-CoV-2 infections in new-borns. They observed that 70% of such cases resulted due to environmental exposure. And out of the 70%, around 9% were confirmed to be the results of vertical transmission of the virus from the mother to her baby, with the infection being acquired before or during childbirth. The cases of transmission of coronavirus due to breastfeeding were not found in the babies who had potentially contracted the virus directly from their mothers.

In the analysis, 97 infants tested positive for Covid-19 and depicted clinical symptoms like respiratory issues, fever and neurological symptoms also, similar to those reported in older patients. The testing of the infection was done by nasopharyngeal swab-test, or by the detection of specific antibodies in the blood.

Researchers found that the infections which occurred at least 72 hours after birth, were found in infants who were placed in cribs placed close to their respective mothers. Such cases lead to a higher incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection. If the babies share a room with their mothers, then appropriate safety measures become mandatory, to reduce the risk of transmission from environmental exposure. Mothers should wear surgical masks while handling their babies and should follow standard hand and breast washing procedures.

Hence, viral transmission through breastmilk is rare, if at all, but further studies and research is required for a better understanding of all the cases.

Also read: Molecular Paddling of White Blood Cells

Source: https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/breastfeeding-not-associated-with-covid-19-in-newborns-finds-study-120101501127_1.html

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