Guideline: infant feeding in areas of Zika virus transmission

Overview

The purpose of this guideline is to provide a recommendation to guide governments, ministries of health, policy-makers and health-care workers in regions affected by transmission of Zika virus, in the development of local and national protocols and policies on infant feeding, including breastfeeding practices in areas of Zika virus transmission, and their implementation. It may also be used to inform communication to the general public.

Zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes; the same mosquito also transmits other vector-borne diseases – dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever. Currently, there is no treatment or vaccine to protect specifically against Zika virus infection.

This guideline is part of a body of work that explores available evidence for possible acceptable medical reasons for temporary or long-term cessation of breastfeeding. It updates the interim guidance on breastfeeding in the context of the Zika virus published by the World Health Organization on 25 February 2016.