There has been a lot of discussion on HIV transmission through breast
milk, and the figure of 40% you mention is way too high. The
transmission rate from HIV+ moms to their infants in total (including in
utero, intrapartum and postpartum via breast milk), is somewhere between
25 to 40% (significantly decreased by AZT prenatally and intrapartum).
The proportion of that 25 to 40% that is due to breast milk is estimated
about 10%, and it appears mostly in cases where the mom was HIV- and got
infected while breastfeeding, or when mom has full-blown AIDS. Hope
this helps. Alicia. [log in to unmask]