A virus hiding in plain sight

Cytomegalovirus (CMV), a herpes virus, is the most common cause of congenital hearing loss and the most common infectious cause of birth defects. CMV is more prevalent than Zika or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder but less well known. Studies have shown that only about 15 percent of women have heard of CMV.

CMV is common

• 50 to 80 percent of adults have CMV.
• 1 in 200 babies is born with CMV, or about 26,000 babies a year in the U.S.
• 30 percent of children are infected by age 5.
• Of women who have not been previously infected, 2 to 4 percent will experience a primary CMV infection during pregnancy, and 40 percent of the time, CMV is transmitted to the fetus.

CMV is serious

• 1 in 5 babies born with CMV have serious, long-term health effects.
• 400 babies born with CMV die each year.
• 8,000 babies born each year with congenital CMV develop permanent disabilities such as:
  • Hearing loss
  • Developmental and motor delay
  • Vision loss
  • Microcephaly

CMV can be transmitted during pregnancy

• CMV can be transmitted from mother to baby during pregnancy.
• CMV can be transmitted through breastmilk after birth, although there are rarely health effects to the infant when this happens.
• Congenital transmission is most likely when a woman experiences a primary CMV infection during pregnancy.
• The greatest risk of infection to pregnant women is through exposure to the saliva of children with CMV. The viral load is high in children’s saliva. Avoiding contact with children’s saliva is key for pregnant women.