Breast Milk as Route of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Transmission from Mother to Infant

Abstract

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is transmitted mainly by tick bites, but humans can acquire infection through consuming unpasteurized milk from infected animals. Interhuman transmission of TBEV by breast milk has not been confirmed or ruled out. We report a case of probable transmission of TBEV from an unvaccinated mother to an infant through breast-feeding.

Keywords

• tick-borne encephalitis virus
• TBEV
• breast milk
• viruses
• transmission
• unvaccinated mother