The recent, excellent Science News article covering the topic (Sep22'07) 
pointed out that a recent large study by Rollins (Mar 31 Lancet) in 
Africa revealaed that exclusively breastfed transmission rates were 
about 4 percent  between 6 weeks and 6 months (I don't know what the 
first 6 weeks bring). (Gosh, if you mixed this finding with drug therapy 
or flash heating...) They made a strong point throughout the article that 
mixing formula and breast feeds brought much greater vulnerability to 
infection due to the intestinal irritation that formula causes. Solid food 
supplements brought even greater transmission rates. Based on this 
observation, WHO recommends a rapid weaning when weaning time 
comes (they say 6 mos of course but...) to avoid HIV breastmilk 
exposure during the irritation of foods. This explains that 6 month 
factor in Iwona's statistic

The article also implied what seems to be obvious though not measured 
in studies that I know of: that if mother has sores or inflammation on 
her nipples or baby has sores in his mouth, transmission risk is likely 
much higher. 
linda

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