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Wed, Aug 13
Breast milk may offer protection against HIV transmission
Breast milk may offer protection against HIV transmission from mother to child, despite the fact that breast feeding is seen as the main method of transmission of HIV between mother and child. Around 10% of infants with HIV infected mothers will contract HIV through breastfeeding. But why is the infection rate not higher? Factors identified in the milk are thought to convey anti-viral protection. Researchers are looking at ways of developing these into drugs to prevent HIV transmission to infants and possibly adults.
Claudia Hammond of Health Check from the BBC spoke to Sallie Permar, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of pediatrics, immunology and molecular genetics and microbiology at Duke.