Congenital Cytomegalovirus (sy·toe·MEG·a·low·vy·rus), or CMV, is the most common viral infection, and the leading non-genetic cause of hearing loss that infants are born with, explains Kerry Picotti. 

What is CMV? 

CMV is a member of the herpes virus family. Coming into contact with the CMV virus is a common occurrence and is typically harmless to the general population, usually causing only cold-like symptoms, such as a sore throat, fever, fatigue and swollen glands. These mild cytomegalovirus symptoms last for only a few short weeks and are rarely a cause for concern for healthy kids or adults.

Fifty percent of people have been infected by young adulthood and up to 85% by 40 years of age. Peaks of infection occur in children under two years of age, and during adolescence.

What is congenital CMV (cCMV)?

When a baby acquires CMV in utero, it is known as a congenital CMV infection.

If a woman is newly infected with CMV while pregnant, there is a risk that her unborn baby will also become infected. Infected babies may, but not always, be born with a disability. The highest risk to the unborn baby occurs when a woman who has never had CMV before is infected with the virus for the first time during pregnancy (primary [first] CMV infection) and when infection occurs during the first half of the pregnancy.

While every woman is at risk of acquiring CMV before and during pregnancy, only 9% of women know about it.

CMV is preventable.

Transmission of CMV is very rare through casual contact. CMV is spread from one person to another, usually by direct and prolonged contact with bodily fluids, including saliva, urine, and breast milk.

Contact with the saliva or urine of young children is a major cause of CMV infection among pregnant women, especially mothers, daycare workers, preschool teachers, therapists, and nurses. Women who are pregnant, or plan to become pregnant, and who have close contact with young children should practice standard hygiene procedures to prevent against congenital CMV.

Pregnant women are recommended to take steps to reduce their risk of exposure to CMV and so reduce the risk of their developing baby becoming infected:

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• Wash hands often with soap and running water for at least 15 seconds and dry them thoroughly.  This should be done especially after close contact with young children, changing nappies, blowing noses, feeding a young child, and handling children’s toys, dummies/soothers.

• Do not share food, drinks, eating utensils or toothbrushes with young children. Avoid putting dummies/soothers in your mouth to clean off dirt if they have fallen on the ground.

• Avoid contact with saliva when kissing a child.

• Use simple detergent and water to clean toys, countertops and other surfaces that come into contact with children’s urine, mucous or saliva.

You are four times as likely to come into contact with CMV through a child without a congenital CMV diagnosis. Children born with congenital CMV pose no threat to their peers and no more of a threat to those at risk for CMV infection (ie. pregnant women) than would any other child.

CMV infection is not a notifiable disease in Australia. Infection with CMV or congenital CMV does not affect access to school, work or childcare, including infants who have disabilities due to congenital CMV. There is currently no licensed vaccine for CMV but vaccine trials are underway.