Can West Nile Virus (WNV) be transmitted from a pregnant mother to her unborn fetus (child)?
In 2002, there was one case of trans-placental (mother to unborn child) transmission of West Nile Virus according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). See the article in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (December 20, 2002; available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5150a3.htm)for more information. CDC and state and local health departments followed birth outcomes among women with WNV illness while pregnant. More information can be found at the CDC’s Questions and Answers on West Nile Virus, Pregnancy, and breast-feeding. Information is also available for healthcare providers through the CDC February 2004 MMWR “Interim Guidelines for the Evaluation of Infants Born to Mothers Infected with West Nile Virus During Pregnancy” What can pregnant women do to avoid the possibility of trans-placental (mother to unborn child) transmission of WNV? The CDC recommends pregnant women take precautions to avoid WNV and other mosquito infections. This includes avoid
