Dear Lactnetters: There have been many posts talking about HBV(hepatitis virus B) and BF in Lactnet. Since there are many HBV carrier in Taiwan and the first large popultation study of HBV and BF was come from Taiwan, you may be intertested in what's the condition in Taiwan. In 1994, the Pediatric Society of Taiwan had a formal statement of HBV and BF " Both HBV S Ag positive and HBV E Ag positive mothers can breastfeed their babies." In spite of this statement, there are still physicians advise mother not to breastfeed due to their HBV carruer status. Once I heard the pregnant women complained such advise they received, I would ask them the name of the physicians and sent the reference and the statment to the physicians. Sometimes, the physicians are just too busy to keep their knowledge update. Reference: Beasley RP, et al. Lancet 1975;2:740. Study in Taiwan showed no difference in the incidence of hepatitis B between breastfed and bottle fed group.It was done before the nation wild immunization of HBV. Avellino N, et al.Gastroenterology 1985:88:1702. Breastfeeding helped the children to clear the virus they got prenatally. De Martino M, et al. Arch Dis Child 1985;60:972 De Martino M, et al. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 1987;6:208 Chao-Huei Chao-Huei Chen, M.D. < [log in to unmask]> mailing address: 160, sec 3, Chung-Kang Rd, Department of Pediatrics, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 407, Taiwan Tel 886 4 3592525-5909, 5971 Fax 886 4 4619990