National Congenital Cytomegalovirus Awareness Month is observed annually in June to raise awareness about congenital cytomegalovirus, more commonly known as CMV, the most common infectious cause of birth defects.
CMV is the most common infectious cause of birth defects in the United States. About 1 out of 5 babies with congenital CMV infection will have birth defects or other long-term health problems, such as hearing loss. In 2011, Congress passed a resolution naming June “National CMW Awareness Month.” The CDC takes this opportunity to increase awareness of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) among healthcare providers, pregnant women, and parents.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus. Once infected, your body retains the virus for life. Most people don't know they have CMV because it rarely causes problems in healthy people.
If you're pregnant or if your immune system is weakened, CMV is cause for concern. Women who develop an active CMV infection during pregnancy can pass the virus to their babies, who might then experience symptoms. For people who have weakened immune systems, especially people who have had an organ, stem cell, or bone marrow transplant, CMV infection can be fatal.
CMV spreads from person to person through body fluids, such as blood, saliva, urine, semen, and breast milk. There is no cure, but there are medications that can help treat the symptoms.
The origins of newborn screening can be traced to the 1950s and 1960s when Robert Guthrie pioneered a blood test (bacterial inhibition assay) to screen for phenylketonuria in newborn babies on the second day of life. In 1962, using funds from the Child Health Bureau, Guthrie began a pilot study in 29 states of the United States, enrolling 400,000 newborns. Because of the success of this study, many states began adopting newborn screening. By 1965, newborn screening for phenylketonuria had become mandatory in 27 states, with others giving public health departments the power to decide. In the 1970s, the testing for congenital hypothyroidism was included in newborn screening.
In the early 1990s, scientists introduced tandem mass spectrometry as more effective equipment for newborn screening. While as affordable as Guthrie’s bacterial inhibition assay, tandem mass spectrometry detected more disorders than previous techniques using a single drop of blood. The introduction of tandem mass spectrometry allowed an expansion in the number of disorders screened in various states. Over time, the technology began replacing Guthrie’s bacterial inhibition assay as the primary technique for newborn screening. However, the filter paper developed by Guthrie is still used today across the globe.
In March 2005, the American College of Medical Genetics released a report recommending that all states screen infants for 29 specific disorders — mainly using tandem mass spectrometry. On April 24, 2008, the administration of President George W. Bush introduced the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act of 2007. This act aimed to increase the awareness of screening newborns to identify specific disorders. In 2011, Congress passed a resolution, designating June as National Congenital Cytomegalovirus Awareness Month.
CMV is related to the viruses that cause chickenpox, herpes simplex, and mononucleosis. CMV may cycle through periods when it lies dormant and then reactivates. If you're healthy, CMV mainly stays dormant.
When the virus is active in your body, you can pass the virus to other people. The virus is spread through body fluids — including blood, urine, saliva, breast milk, tears, semen, and vaginal fluids. Casual contact doesn't transmit CMV.
Ways the virus can be transmitted include:
Most healthy people who are infected with CMV may experience no symptoms. Some experience minor symptoms. People who are more likely to experience signs and symptoms of CMV include:
Most babies who have congenital CMV appear healthy at birth.
A few babies who have congenital CMV who appear healthy at birth develop signs over time — sometimes not for months or years after birth. The most common of these late-occurring signs are hearing loss and developmental delay. A small number of babies may also develop vision problems.
The following signs and symptoms are more common in babies who have congenital CMV and who are sick at birth:
If your immune system is weakened, you might experience serious problems that affect your eyes, lungs, liver, esophagus, stomach, intestines, or brain.
Most people who are infected with CMV and who are otherwise healthy experience few if any symptoms. When first infected, some adults may have symptoms similar to infectious mononucleosis, including:
Most people have been infected with cytomegalovirus (CMV), but do not have symptoms. If a pregnant woman is infected with CMV, she can pass it to her developing baby. This is called congenital CMV, and it can cause birth defects and other health problems.
About 1 out of every 200 babies is born with congenital CMV. About 1 out of 5 of these babies will have birth defects or other long-term health problems
Careful hygiene is the best prevention against CMV. You can take these precautions:
If you have weakened immunity, you may benefit from taking antiviral medication to prevent CMV disease.
Experimental vaccines are being tested for women of childbearing age. These vaccines may be useful in preventing CMV infection in mothers and infants, and reducing the chance that babies born to women who are infected while pregnant will develop disabilities.
See a doctor if you have a weakened immune system and you're experiencing symptoms of CMV infection. For people who have weakened immune systems, CMV infection can be serious or even fatal. People who have undergone stem cell or organ transplants seem to be at the greatest risk. See your doctor as well if you develop a mononucleosis-like illness while you're pregnant.
If you have CMV but are otherwise healthy, and you're experiencing any mild, generalized illness, you could be in a reactivation period. Self-care, such as getting plenty of rest, should be enough for your body to control the infection.
If you know you were infected with CMV during your pregnancy, tell your baby’s doctor. They will likely assess your baby for hearing or vision problems.
Sharing information is one of the easiest ways to make the most impact during National Congenital Cytomegalovirus Awareness Month. You can share anything from details about the virus and facts to signs, symptoms, and how to prevent transmitting it to unborn infants and children. Share the information on your social media pages, with colleagues at your workplace, or over coffee with friends and acquaintances.
Another way to make the most impact is to donate to foundations and not-for-profit organizations focusing on congenital cytomegalovirus. By doing so, you can contribute to vaccine development, increase awareness and reduce the effects of the virus. One of such organizations you can donate to is the National CMV Foundation.
If you are already a member of a C.M.V. organization or a health practitioner, you can organize activities or events during National Congenital Cytomegalovirus Awareness Month to increase your impact. These could be public health forums, educational programs, or community outreach.
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/cmv/resources/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/cmv/fact-sheets/parents-pregnant-women.html
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cmv/symptoms-causes/syc-20355358