At a glance
Malaria is not transmitted through breast milk. Most antimalarial medications are safe for mothers to take while breastfeeding. Breastfeeding infants may need their own antimalarial drug.
About malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite. Malaria is not transmitted to infants through breast milk.
Most U.S. cases occur in travelers and immigrants returning from countries where malaria transmission occurs. These countries include sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Precautions for traveling
A breastfeeding mother who plans to travel to a geographic region where malaria is prevalent is advised to take every precaution to avoid infection. Standard preventive approaches include using insect repellent and taking prophylactic antimalarial medications.
When using insect repellants, breastfeeding mothers should avoid applying insect repellents under their clothes or to the nipple area. They should wash their hands before holding and breastfeeding their infants.
Drugs to prevent malaria
Mothers
Most malaria prevention drugs are safe for nursing mothers. These drugs are taken before, during, and after travel to prevent malaria transmission. Breastfeeding mothers should take the standard recommended dose of malaria prevention drugs for the country they are visiting.
Children
The amount of malaria prevention drug transferred in breast milk is not enough to protect infants from malaria for the infant. Children who are breastfed need their own malaria prevention drugs.
CDC's Yellow Book for Travelers
Malaria treatment
Mothers who are taking drugs to treat malaria may continue to breastfeed if they are healthy enough to do so.
However, some medications used to treat malaria are not safe for breastfeeding infants who weigh less than 11 pounds or 5 kilograms. These drugs should be avoided in breastfeeding mothers.
Health care providers need to know if a mother is breastfeeding to prescribe the appropriate drug. Mothers who are diagnosed with malaria should begin appropriate treatment as soon as possible.