West Nile Virus
Can a woman who becomes infected with West Nile Virus safely nurse
her infant?
Scientists have found no evidence that a mother’s West Nile Virus
infection harms her breastfeeding infant. Therefore, CDC recommends that
women with West Nile Virus illness continue breastfeeding because the
benefits of breast milk are thought to outweigh the theoretical risk of
harm to the infant.
In the few documented cases of West Nile Virus transmission through
breastfeeding (1 case in the year 2002; 3 cases in the year 2003), none
resulted in recognizable illness in the infant.
To learn more about West Nile Virus, visit CDC, Vector-borne Diseases:
West Nile
Virus.
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Page last updated: May 22, 2007
Content Source: Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion