The best article I have ever read on HIV and breastfeeding is: Infant feeding policy and practice in the presence of HIV-1 infection Nicoll A, Newell ML, Van Praag E, Van de Perre P and Peckham C published in AIDS 1995, 9:107-119 Copyright Current Science Ltd ISSN 0269-9370 Requests for reprints to: Dr A. Nicholl, Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, 61 Cloindale Avenue, London NW9 SEQ The article is a broad overview of current knowledge (1995), including taking into account the risks of artificial feeding (these are well stated), and extensively reviews the literature on HIV and breastfeeding. It would appear from available data that there is a sinificant attributable risk of vertical transmidssion through breastfeeding by HIV+ mothers, but the authors suggest that explicative research might aim to determine *when* breastfeeding transmission of HIV-1 takes place and the factors associated with higher risk of transmission. Recently infected mothers (eg through blood) with acute viraemia certainly seem to be more at risk of transmission through milk. The issue of *when* breastfeeding transmission occurs with a mother who is already known to be HIV+ is interesting, because two studies have suggested that most transmission may be confined to shortly after birth (colostrum with its higher cellular content), rather than spead evenly throughout the breastfeeding period, although this has yet to be proven. It has interesting implications though. Lets hope all this becomes more academic as science progresses in the whole management of HIV. There are exciting reports coming out of the Vancouver conference. Ros Escott [log in to unmask]