Ebola virus may linger in breast milk for weeks after recovery (cidrap.umn.edu)

• 23-year-old pregnant woman in DRC with Ebola, recovered after monoclonal antibody therapy.
• Ebola RNA persisted in placenta and breast milk for 14 weeks post-illness, despite negative blood.
• Newborn received prophylactic antibodies; breastfeeding withheld, lactation suppressed.

"A case report in NEJM describes a 23-year-old woman in the DRC who contracted Ebola during pregnancy in 2019. After monoclonal antibody therapy and negative blood tests, she delivered a healthy infant. However, Ebola RNA persisted in the placenta and breast milk for up to 14 weeks after illness onset. To protect the newborn, breastfeeding was avoided, prophylactic monoclonal antibodies were given, and lactation was suppressed with bromocriptine. The authors call for further studies to assess transmission risk."