The most recent information I have read is that there is no
contraindication to breastfeeding with active Herpes Zoster unless the
lesions are on the breast itself as Herpes Zoster is spread by contact
and not by aerosol spread as is Chicken Pox.
                                                Len Presutti, DO
                                                Dept. of Fam Med.
                                                Ohio Univ. COM
                                                Athens OH 45701

>----------
>From:  Nancy E. Wight MD, FAAP, IBCLC[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent:  Wednesday, February 03, 1999 1:12 AM
>Subject:       Re: Shingles and breastfeeding
>
>Shingles is not a contraindication to breastfeeding or using the milk. Like
>any herpes lesion (varicella zoster is a herpes virus) you want to minimize
>any infant exposure:
>cover the lesion and wash your hands.  I know of no research that suggests
>the
>virus gets into breastmilk. Shingles is a local reactivation of virus living
>in nerve endings, not a systemic illness.
>Nancy Wight MD, FAAP, IBCLC
>
>