Pasteurising breast milk inactivates Covid-19 virus: Study
Toronto- Researchers have found that pasteurising breast milk using a common technique inactivates severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) making it safe for use.
According to the study, published in the CMAJ, current advice is for women with coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) to continue to breastfeed their infants.
In Canada, it is standard care to provide pasteurised breast milk to very-low-birth-weight babies in the hospital until their own mother's milk supply is adequate.
"In the event that a woman who is Covid-19-positive donates human milk that contains SARS-CoV-2, the method of pasteurisation renders milk safe for consumption," said study researcher Sharon Unger from the University of Toronto in Canada.
"Whether by transmission through the mammary gland or by contamination through respiratory droplets, skin, breast pumps and milk containers, this method is safe," Unger added.
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