Transmission of COVID-19 to newborns via breast milk highly unlikely – KBC

Transmission of COVID-19 to newborns (neonates) is thought to occur primarily through respiratory droplets during the postnatal period when they are exposed to infected mothers or other caregivers.

What this means is that transmission of the virus to the newborn via breast milk is highly unlikely.

Generally, COVID-19 infections in neonates are uncommon, if they do get infected postnatally, the majority are either asymptomatic or with mild disease and they recover.

Severe COVID-19 in neonates appears to be rare although the ones with underlying medical conditions and preterm infants may be at a higher risk of severe illness.

CAS Dr Rashid Aman while giving the daily COVID-19 statistics in the country emphasized that healthcare givers must counsel mothers with suspected or confirmed cases on all precautions to be taken to avoid transmission to their newborns.

“Mothers should be instructed to wash their hands using soap and water before touching the infant…. wear a facemask or cloth face covering while breastfeeding and if expressing milk, the mother should clean hands before touching the bottle,” said Dr Aman.

The World Breastfeeding Week is observed on the week of 01 to 07 August which in this year of 2020 comes to an end on Friday.

The theme of this year’s celebrations is “Support Breastfeeding for a Healthier Planet” and is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 13, that urges urgent action to be taken to combat climate change and its impact.

The objectives of the World Breastfeeding Week is to inform people about the link between breastfeeding and the environmental/ climate change, anchor breastfeeding as a climate-smart decision, engage with individuals and organizations for greater impact and galvanise action on improving the health of the planet and people through breastfeeding.

Currently, according to statistics, only three out of five children in Kenya are exclusively breastfed in the six months which means that most infants in the community are deprived of major nutritional, immunological and psychological benefits which breastfeeding confers.

Other key infants and young child feeding practices include early initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth.

Breastfeeding is then continued up to two years of age or beyond with the introduction of nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods at six months.

Kenya enacted the Breastmilk Substitute Act, 2012 in line with the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, providing for appropriate marketing and distribution of breastmilk substitutes and promotion of breast milk.

At the community level, the Ministry is rolling out a ‘Baby Friendly Community Initiative,’ to empower communities to promote, protect and support breastfeeding and address the barriers and negative breastfeeding perceptions that prevail among our elitist young mothers.

During the current COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Health is, therefore, advocating for breastfeeding as a public health intervention. in order to save lives and prevent infections an illnesses among children.