(Salt Lake City, UT) – This week Utah becomes the first
state in the nation to launch an education and screening campaign for
cytomegalovirus, commonly referred to as CMV.
CMV, a member of the herpes family of viruses, is a common
virus that infects people of all ages.
Most healthy children and adults with CMV don’t feel sick and don’t know
they have been infected; others may have mild, flu-like symptoms such as fever,
sore throat, fatigue or swollen glands.
Harper Randall, M.D., Medical Director, Utah Department of
Health (UDOH) Division of Family Health and Preparedness, says, “Most CMV
infections are ‘silent’, meaning the majority of people who have it have no
signs or symptoms, and there are no harmful effects. However, when CMV occurs
during a woman’s pregnancy, the baby can become infected before birth. It’s
then known congenital CMV.”
An average of 365 babies – or one per day – is born with CMV
in Utah each year. When this happens,
the virus is transmitted to the unborn infant and can potentially affect the
brain, eyes and/or inner ears. About 1
of every 5 children born with congenital CMV infection will develop permanent
problems, such as hearing loss or developmental disabilities.
In an effort to make moms-to-be aware of CMV, Rep. Ronda
Menlove, R-Garland, submitted and succeeded in passing H.B. 81, which directs
UDOH to educate women about the dangers of CMV in pregnancy, and more
importantly, how to prevent it.
The virus is generally passed from infected people to others
through direct contact with body fluids like urine and saliva. An infected person can look healthy and still
pass the virus to another person for a period of several months after being
infected.
Richard Harward, Au.D., Director, UDOH Children with Special
Health Care Needs Bureau, says one of the best prevention strategies is the
easiest. “Good personal hygiene is key and
includes washing hands often with soap and water for 15 to 20 seconds,
especially after changing diapers, feeding a young child, wiping a young
child’s nose or mouth, or after handling children’s toys.”
Harward also says pregnant women should not
share food, drinks, eating utensils or a toothbrush with a child, and not put a
child’s pacifier in her mouth.
In addition to cytomegalovirus (CMV) public education, H.B.
81 requires medical practitioners to test newborns for congenital CMV before 21
days of age if they have failed two hearing screenings.
Utah has been screening newborns for hearing loss in the
first few days of life since 1998.
Stephanie McVicar, Au.D., Director, UDOH Early Hearing Detection and
Intervention, says congenital CMV is one
of the leading causes of hearing loss in children. McVicar stresses the
importance of timely newborn hearing screening follow-up. “If a baby fails the hearing screening in the
hospital, it’s very important that the child be re-screened before 14 days of
age. If the baby then does not pass this
second screening, their medical provider will talk to the family about
congenital CMV testing.”
If a baby tests positive for CMV, appropriate referrals will be made
to other specialists as needed. Harward
says hearing loss and overall development should be monitored closely, and
Randall adds that infants, children, and adults who are infected with CMV after
birth rarely have problems. “Our
education effort is about preventing CMV infection during pregnancy, when it
could present a danger to the unborn child,” said Randall.
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The mission of the
Utah Department of Health is to protect the public's health through preventing
avoidable illness, injury, disability and premature death, assuring access to
affordable, quality health care, and promoting healthy lifestyles.
