For Mary,

Here is a little information from Dr. Ruff's paper about Hepatitis C.

"Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is now recognized as one of the primary causes of
non-A, non-B hepatitis.  Although parenteral transmission through blood
products and the use of contaminated needles by injection drug users has
been well established, the extent to which vertical transmission occurs is
still largely unknown.  Reported rates of vertical transmission have ranged
from 0% to 100%, but many of the studies to date have involved relatively
small numbers of mothers and infants and have relied on assays of variable
sensitivity and specificity.  Available data suggest elevated maternal
titers of HCV RNA, and co-infection with HIV-1 may increase the risk of
transmission to the infant.  Vertical transmission can apparently occur in
non-breastfed infants: the risk of hepatitis C transmission through
breastfeeding is unknown at this time."


...from  Ruff A:  Breastmilk breastfeeding and the transmission of viruses
to the neonate.
Sem in Perinatology 1994;18(6):510-16


Also, I do not believe that it is possible to immunize against non-A non-B
hepatitis at this time.

From the great North (-26 C and falling- but no snow!)

Shirley Gross
_________________________________________

M. Shirley Gross M.D.,C.M., C.C.F.P., I.B.C.L.C.
Director, Edmonton Breastfeeding Clinic
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
E mail at  <  [log in to unmask]  >
_________________________________________