Scientists also identified specific COVID-19 antibodies in the umbilical cords (Representation)
Paris:
There is “solid evidence” that mothers with COVID-19 can transmit the virus to their unborn children, scientists said Thursday, according to findings that may affect the protection of pregnant women during the pandemic.
Although there have been isolated cases of babies infected with the virus, the results show the strongest link to date between mother-to-child transmission.
Italian researchers studied 31 pregnant women hospitalized with COVID-19 and found the virus in a full-term placenta, the umbilical cord, a woman’s vagina and in breast milk.
They also identified specific COVID-19 antibodies in the umbilical cords of several pregnant women as well as in milk samples.
Claudio Fenizia, of the University of Milan and lead author of the study, said the results “strongly suggest” that in vitro transmission is possible.
“Given the number of people infected worldwide, the number of women likely to be affected by this phenomenon could be potentially very high,” he told AFP.
Fenizia pointed out that none of the infants born during the study period were positive for COVID-19.
“Although in utero transmission seems possible, it is too early to clearly assess the risk and the potential consequences,” he said.
The World Health Organization said last month that new mothers infected with COVID-19 should continue to breastfeed.
“We know that children are at relatively low risk for COVID-19, but are at high risk for many other diseases and conditions that breastfeeding prevents,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Among other findings, the team identified a specific inflammatory response triggered by COVID-19 in the blood plasma of the placenta and umbilical cord of women.
Fenizia said the women studied were all in their third trimester, given the period of the epidemic in Italy, adding that more research is currently underway among women who are positive for COVID-19 in early pregnancy.
“Our study aims to raise awareness and invite the scientific community to consider pregnancy in HIV-positive women as an urgent subject to further characterize and dissect,” he said.
“I believe that promoting prevention is the surest advice we could possibly give to these patients right now.”
The study was published at a week-long international AIDS conference held online for the first time in its history due to the pandemic.
(This story has not been edited by GalacticGaming staff and is automatically generated from a syndicated feed.)
