Coronavirus

Coronavirus

Since the coronavirus outbreak, the most critical studies have been to determine all possible ways to transmit the virus. The SARS-CoV-2 virus harms the respiratory organs and causes challenges in breathing. Current studies reveal that human fluids are the primary transmitters of coronavirus. Human milk, one of the human fluids, has raised many questions on the possibility of its transmission of the virus from the mother to his/her breastfeeding infant. The reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test has been used to detect the possibility of SARS-CoV-2. On the other hand, the demand for human pasteurized milk has rapidly increased due to its optimal source of nutrients for infants. Mothers’ milk contains bioactive and immunomodulatory factors, which boost the infant’s immune system against respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract infection. The holder milk pasteurization method is the primary milk preservation in the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) and the European Milk Bank Association (EMBA). This method involves heating milk at a temperature of 62.5°C for at least 30 minutes to inactivate germs and viruses. Unger S, Christie-Holmes N, Guvenc F, Budylowski P, Mubareka S, Gray-Owen SD, O’Connor DL. Conducted an experiment to evaluate the effectiveness of Holder milk pasteurization to inactivate SARS-CoV-2. The title of their research was Holder Pasteurization of Donated Human Milk is Effective in Inactivating SARS-CoV-2. Since SARS-CoV-2 is a non-heat resistance virus, the authors confirmed that the Holder milk pasteurization method was suitable for inactivating the virus. Indeed, this study was commendable because of its accuracy, uniqueness, and adherence to ethical concerns.

In the article, Holder Pasteurization of Donated Human Milk is Effective in Inactivating SARS-CoV-2, Unger et al. (2020) present the issue of pasteurized donor human milk, which has been used over the past few years in hospitals as a bridge to mother’s milk for infants with low birth weights. The study aimed to confirm whether pasteurization effectively inactivated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2) in donated human milk samples. The methods used by the researchers involved obtaining frozen milk from ten donors in the Rogers Hixon Ontario Human Milk Bank. The authors thawed the milk samples on ice to draw the samples, homogenized and spiked them with SARS-CoV-2. One milk sample was kept unpasteurized for thirty minutes at room temperature. The second sample was pasteurized in a water bath of 62.5°C for 30 minutes (Holders’ method). Results showed that after three to five days, no cytopathic activity was detected in pasteurized milk samples which were spiked with SARS-CoV-2. The viral titer reduced in volume in the unpasteurized milk sample kept at room temperature and spiked with SARSCoV-2. These findings meant that using the Holder’s method in pasteurization of the donated human milk was effective in inactivating SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, women suffering from COVID-19 can donate milk with SARS-CoV-2 and yet ensure that the milk is safe for human consumption by applying the Holder’s method of pasteurization. The virus spiked in the pasteurized samples was fully inactivated. The authors asserted that Holders’ process of pasteurization would render any milk containing SARS-CoV-2 safe for use.

Mother’s milk contains cytokines, lactoferrin, oligosaccharides, and secretory immunoglobulins, which boost an infant’s immunity. As such, provision for pasteurized donor human milk is essential for very-low-birth-weight infants in hospitals. In the article, “Holder pasteurization of donated human milk is effective in inactivating SARS-CoV-2,  Unger et al. ascertain that holder pasteurization of donated human milk can inactivate SARS-CoV-2. Although very little is known about severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, this research’s findings are commendable to its uniqueness, accurate study tools, and ethical considerations. The SARS-CoV-2 virus has been detected in human milk by a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Still, very few milk samples from positive women have been tested. As such, this research is among the few pieces of literature available concerning this subject. According to Unger et al., this is the first study that has tested the viability of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in human milk. Palmquist et al. suggest that “The consequences of promoting breastfeeding cessation among infants at risk of perinatal HIV are instructive for COVID‐19.”¹ Therefore, this study is unique. Further, the authors used the holder pasteurization method to inactivate possible SARS-CoV-2 present in human milk. This method is ideal since it inactivates germs, bacteria, and viruses. Pitino et al. argue that the holder pasteurization method is essential for inactivating non-heat resistance viruses, including the coronavirus.² Besides, Unger et al. adhered to the human research ethical requirements. For instance, the authors provided written consent confirming that the milk sample was used for quality control and research purposes. Some people may discredit this research based on the small sample used during the experiments. However, handling milk containing the SARS-CoV-2 virus requires strict adherence to the World Health Organisation’s safety measures. Unger et al.’s study had the highest number of SARS-CoV-2 milk samples employed than similar previous studies. Based on this study’s conclusions, it is evident that the holder pasteurization method inactivates the SARS-CoV-2 virus contained in human milk. Donated human milk must therefore be pasteurized to reduce the risk of COVID 19 transmission.

In conclusion, this study is unique, reliable, and ethical. The prevalence of Covid 19 has significantly increased globally. Although its cure is yet to be confirmed, medical personnel have established necessary preventive measures. Since the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is through human fluids, human milk preservation is a concern while preventing the spread of the virus. Although there are only a few studies about the safety of human milk, the Holder’s milk preservation method is an essential method of ensuring that the milk is free from viruses and germs. SARS-CoV-2 is among the non-heat resistance transmittable viruses. As such, heating milk to 62.5°C for 30 minutes ensures that no virus is active; hence, it is safe for consumption. The authors provided that the collection and experiments on sample milk adhered to ethical guidelines. The World Health Organization should ensure that donated milk is pasteurized before its consumption. This method will inactivate not only SARS-CoV-2 but also other bacterias and germs in the future. The World Health Organization should also develop new pasteurization methods to ascertain the best approach to inactivating germs and viruses in human milk.

References

1. Palmquist AE, Asiodu IV, Quinn EA. The COVID‐19 liquid gold rush: Critical perspectives of human milk and SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. American Journal of Human Biology. 2020 Jan 1. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7435540/
2. Pitino MA, O’Connor DL, McGeer AJ, Unger S. The impact of thermal pasteurization on viral load in human milk and other matrices: A rapid review. medRxiv. 2020 Jan 1. Available at: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.05.23.20111369v2.full.pdf