HIV-Positive Woman Donated Breast Milk Over Social Media
(MedPage Today) -- Health officials from California warned on the dangers of acquiring breast milk outside of vetted channels after multiple infants were potentially exposed to HIV from donor milk obtained via social media. It's unclear if infants...
California health officials warned of the risks of obtaining breast milk from social media after five infants potentially exposed to HIV. Four infants tested negative for HIV, but one case had low levels of the virus in frozen milk that hadn't been consumed. The investigation began when a pregnant woman tested positive for HIV during a prenatal screening in October 2025.
She had been donating breast milk through online groups since May of that year. The mother was counseled to stop breastfeeding and her viral load was 119,000 copies/mL at the time. Her daughter received post-exposure prophylaxis and tested negative for HIV. The report emphasizes the dangers of unpasteurized breast milk obtained through social media, which can be contaminated with viruses or bacteria if not properly stored.
Accredited milk banks pasteurize their product and screen donors, but social media groups lack these safeguards. The health department faced challenges in contacting the families, including being barred from social media groups and skepticism from parents. Despite these obstacles, they were able to identify and test the infants at highest risk for potential HIV exposure.
The case highlights the importance of patient education on the risks of unpasteurized breast milk and the unique role social media can play in public health investigations.
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