Pandemic Influenza: Severity Must Be Taken into Account

it might be insufficient as a stand-alone intervention in reducing the sharp increase in diarrhea rates that was observed among KiBS infants during the weaning period. Early and rapid weaning does not appear to be a healthy practice in such environments. Although Ms Peletz and Dr Filteau are correct that “[WHO]...did not fully endorse abrupt weaning,” the WHO reference that they cited did note that the best duration for the transition between exclusive breast-feeding to complete cessation of breast-feeding is unknown [4]. There is an urgent need to determine the minimum period for which infants of HIV-infected mothers should be breastfed to provide adequate nutrition and immunologic protection, as well as the optimal weaning practices to minimize exposure to supplemental foods from a risky environment.