title: Inactivation of Zika virus in human breast milk by prolonged storage or pasteurization.
abstract: Zika virus infection during pregnancy poses a serious risk for pregnant women as it can cause severe birth defects. Even though the virus is mainly transmitted via mosquitos, human-to-human transmission has been described. Infectious viral particles have been detected in breast milk of infected women which raised concerns regarding the safety of breastfeeding in areas of Zika virus transmission or in case of a suspected or confirmed Zika virus infection. In this study, we show that Zika virus is effectively inactivated in human breast milk after prolonged storage or upon pasteurization of milk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Federal Department of Home Affairs, Institute of Virology and Immunology, Bern and Mittelhäusern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pfaender
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Federal Department of Home Affairs, Institute of Virology and Immunology, Bern and Mittelhäusern, Switzerland; Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nathalie J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Vielle
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Federal Department of Home Affairs, Institute of Virology and Immunology, Bern and Mittelhäusern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ebert
authors.affiliation: Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research; a Joint Venture Between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Eike
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Steinmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Federal Department of Home Affairs, Institute of Virology and Immunology, Bern and Mittelhäusern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Marco P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Federal Department of Home Affairs, Institute of Virology and Immunology, Bern and Mittelhäusern, Switzerland. Electronic address: volker.thiel@vetsuisse.unibe.ch.
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Thiel
mesh_terms: D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005516:Food Microbiology / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000821:virology*; D061352:Pasteurization / Q000379:methods; D038301:Virus Inactivation; D000071244:Zika Virus
keywords: Antiviral; Breast milk; Pasteurization; Stability; Zika virus