woman's hand touching baby's hand

Leading the fight against congenital CMV

Who we are


The National CMV Foundation is thje driving force in the fight against congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV)—the leading infectious cause of birth defects and developmental disabilities in the United States. Since 2014, we’ve united families, clinicians, researchers, and policymakers to raise awareness, advance prevention strategies, and push for bold research and policy change. 

What is congenital CMV?


Cytomegalovirus (sy·toe·MEG·a·low·vy·rus) or CMV is a common virus that is generally harmless. A CMV infection usually causes no symptoms in typical healthy people and is rarely a cause for concern.  
 
However, when a pregnant person catches CMV, the virus can cross the placenta and infect the growing fetus. When a fetus is infected in-utero, this is called   congenital CMV .
 
Congenital CMV infections most often do not cause harm to the fetus, but in some cases congenital CMV can result in pregnancy loss, developmental disabilities or medical conditions in the baby once born. Learn more about how to reduce the risk of catching CMV in pregnancy, possible outcomes and how to support children and families impacted by cCMV. 

 

1 out of 3

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infections during pregnancies the will pass through the placenta infecting the fetus

1 Child

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 is permanently disabled by congenital CMV every hour

1 in 200

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children are born with congenital CMV each year

Prevention

There are simple and effective prevention measures you and your loved ones can take to mitigate the risk of CMV transmission during pregnancy. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor about CMV.

5 Simple Tips to Help Prevent CMV

Don't Share

do not share food, utensils, drinks or straws

no pacifier

do not put a pacifier in your mouth

avoid saliva

avoid contact with saliva when kissing a child

no toothbrush sharing

do not share a toothbrush

wash hands

wash your hands



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