CMV Awareness Month: the most dangerous virus so many have never heard of

Empowering families with knowledge of three simple preventative steps can drastically reduce the risk of congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV) – Australia’s leading infectious cause of disability in newborns.

That’s the message the CMV Association and Cerebral Palsy Alliance are sharing with pregnant people, families and the wider community this June for CMV Awareness Month.

“Every day in Australia, a baby is born with a life-long disability caused by congenital CMV. As an obstetrician I have witnessed the profound impact that CMV has on families and how little is known about this common virus in the community,” said Dr Antonia Shand, Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist at the Royal Hospital for Women.

“CMV Awareness Month brings families, medical professionals and researchers together to highlight the importance of CMV prevention.”

A common herpesvirus, CMV is endemic – roughly 80% of adults will have been infected by the age of 40. But while CMV is mostly harmless to most people with healthy immune systems, if caught during pregnancy the virus can damage a baby’s developing brain.

The risk in pregnancy is highest in the first trimester, but can be reduced through three simple preventative measures:

• Wash with care: wash your hands after activities such as changing nappies
• Kiss with care: avoid contact with saliva – try kissing your baby on the forehead instead of the lips
• Don’t share: avoid putting a child’s dummy or toothbrush in your mouth, and don’t share food, cutlery or utensils with infants

“Raising awareness about congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) is vital for people to have the opportunity to reduce their risk of contracting CMV before and during pregnancy. It also fosters more informed choices and better access to available treatments, resources and support,” said Kate Russ-Daly, President and Founder of CMV Association.

“We know that prevention is always better than a cure and a proactive approach to health care issues, including congenital CMV, provides for earlier diagnosis & timely intervention which can not only greatly reduce the economic impact of congenital CMV but also result in better outcomes.”

Key facts about CMV

• Every year, 400 infants in Australia are born with a disability caused by CMV
• CMV is known to cause epilepsy, hearing loss, cerebral palsy, intellectual impairment and, in rare cases, death. 
• Around 10% of cerebral palsy is now believed to be linked to CMV and it is the leading cause of neurosensory hearing loss in children 
• A 2023 national survey found that just 14% of women aged 20-40 are familiar with the virus
• CMV causes 20 times more pregnancy abnormalities than toxoplasmosis, rubella and listeriosis combined 
• A host of educational resources and materials on CMV can be accessed HERE 

CMV Awareness Month activities include a social media campaign aimed at parents and maternal health professionals, as well as new alliance of leading non-profit disability organisations and health agencies.

A/Prof Hayley Smithers-Sheedy, Principal Research Fellow at CPA Research Institute, said that simple hygiene strategies can reduce the risk of CMV infection in pregnancy.

“With the establishment of this new alliance between families impacted by CMV,  disability organisations and our partners at the NSW Department of Health, we now have a new opportunity to get prevention messaging out to pregnant women, who tell us they feel empowered by knowing how to stay healthy in pregnancy,” she said. 

What support is available for families affected by CMV? A diagnosis of congenital CMV for your baby can be life-changing CMV Australia is a family advocacy organisation dedicated to raising awareness and supporting families affected by CMV.  The non-profit organisation has a variety of supports for families, including educational resources and a family support forum.  You can make a donation to support the work of CMV Association HERE.