TOKYO – A newborn in Japan is believed to have contracted Covid-19 from the mother in what may be the first case of mother-to-baby coronavirus transmission in the country, reported Sputnik.
According to a report by NHK today, researchers from the Japan Paediatric Society studied 1,124 medical facilities across the country that have paediatric departments. Per the survey results, 52 newborns at 31 facilities were born to coronavirus-positive mothers last August, of whom one baby was said to be infected. The child reportedly did not have health problems.
Citing researchers, the broadcaster added that there had been other similar cases reported from abroad on suspected mother-to-baby Covid-19 transmissions.
According to Morioka Ichiro, a professor at the Nihon University School of Medicine, the chances of mothers passing the coronavirus on to their babies is low and that infected babies may develop light symptoms.
There have been reports coming from several other countries, including Singapore and Bulgaria, where women gave birth to babies with antibodies after having contracted Covid-19 during pregnancy. – Bernama, March 22, 2021
