California HIV Case Exposes 5 Infants to Donated Breast Milk, but No Infections Found
Updated
Updated · Gizmodo · Aug 14
California HIV Case Exposes 5 Infants to Donated Breast Milk, but No Infections Found
2 articles · Updated · Gizmodo · Aug 14
Summary
Five infants were identified as potentially exposed after a California woman tested HIV-positive in October 2025, having donated raw breast milk through private social media groups from May to October.
One frozen milk sample tested positive for HIV, but at least one recipient family never used it and all infants investigators could test were negative for infection.
Santa Clara County health officials struggled to enter the private groups and alert families, with administrators blocking general warnings and some parents doubting direct messages were legitimate.
The woman, who had tested negative in 2023 prenatal screening, started antiretroviral treatment in late October; her 2-year-old daughter received postexposure prophylaxis and also avoided infection.
CDC authors said the near miss highlights the risks of unpasteurized milk shared informally online and urged families to use accredited milk banks that screen donors and pasteurize milk.