SARS-CoV-2 in human milk is inactivated by Holder pasteurisation but not cold storage.

Gregory J WalkerVanessa CliffordNidhi BansalAlberto O StellaStuart TurvilleSacha Stelzer-BraidLaura D KleinWilliam Rawlinson

Published in: Journal of paediatrics and child health (2020)

SARS-CoV-2 is effectively inactivated by Holder pasteurisation, suggesting that existing milk bank processes will effectively mitigate the risk of transmission of SARS-COV-2 to vulnerable infants through pasteurised donor human milk. The demonstrated stability of SARS-CoV-2 in refrigerated or frozen human milk may assist in the development of guidelines around safe expressing and storing of milk from COVID-19 infected mothers.

Keyphrases

human milk
sars cov
low birth weight
respiratory syndrome coronavirus
preterm infants
preterm birth
clinical practice