Travel to these countries increases the risk of exposure to the Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) and possibly HIV Group O.^{1 2}

Donation of blood, tissue, or breastmilk in the US is not allowed after traveling to these countries, especially if a person received a blood transfusion, had unprotected sex with a local resident, or exposure to needles.

HIV, HTLV, and untreated active tuberculosis³ are the only infectious diseases that are considered contraindications to breastfeeding in North America.^{4 5} Also see Introduction to Infectious Diseases.

Please see a primary care physician with any concerns.

Please see How can breastmilk be pasteurized at home? for more information on heat-treating and pathogens.

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1. Human T-Lymphotropic Virus (HTLV) ↩︎
2. HIV Sequence Database – HIV and SIV Nomenclature ↩︎
3. Not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. As a result, two TB-related conditions exist: latent TB infection and TB disease. ↩︎
4. CDC – Contraindications to Breastfeeding or Feeding Expressed Breast Milk to Infant ↩︎
5. Human Milk Banking Association of North America. Archived. HMBANA|Donate Milk Milk banks exclude donors who have had a positive blood test result for HIV, HTLV, Hepatitis B or C, or Syphilis, whose sexual partner is at risk for HIV, who use illegal drugs, who smoke or uses tobacco products, who have received an organ or tissue transplant or a blood transfusion in the last 12 month, who regularly have more than two ounces or more of alcohol per day, who have been in the United Kingdom for more than 3 months or in Europe for more than 5 years since 1980 and who were born in or has traveled to Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Niger, or Nigeria. ↩︎