New microbes and new infections
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New Microbes New Infect · Sep 2020
Clinical and immunologic features among COVID-19-affected mother-infant pairs: antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 detected in breast milk.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic remains threatening to women and children, but clinical evidence regarding women during pregnancy, puerperium and lactation is limited. We assessed clinical and immunologic features of and breastfeeding advice provided to mother-infant pairs. This observational analysis was conducted in a tertiary-care centre in Wuhan, China. ⋯ Both IgM and IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 were detected in breast milk, cord blood and neonatal serum. The study results suggest that passive acquisition of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 is available by ingesting breast milk. Breastfeeding has a low risk of transmitting SARS-CoV-2 or escalating maternal disease, so continuing breastfeeding with prudent precautions is encouraged.