February 2017

Advocating for Newborn CMV Screening through Hospital-Based Initiatives

Author: Maggie Kettler, AuD CMV newborn screening has increased tremendously in the past decade, with many states implementing the screening through legislative efforts. However, CMV screening legislation is not a realistic avenue in all states. In this blog post, we hear from Maggie Kettler, AuD, who has helped to lead successful efforts to increase CMV newborn screening in her home state of Ohio. In this post she discusses successes, challenges, and advice she has for advocates in other states. 

2017 CMV Legislation Proposed in Four States

What do Idaho, Iowa, Oregon, and Maine have in common? These states have proposed state CMV legislation for 2017! Thanks to the hard work of sponsors, parents, physicians, and other advocates within these states, CMV legislation with proposed education and/or screening programs will be evaluated during this legislative session in each individual state. So what's in all of these bills? Check out our blog for summaries and links to bill text and updates. 

​Microcephaly 101

Microcephaly has been making headlines over the last year as potential brain malformation connected to women diagnosed with Zika during pregnancy. However, kids are at risk of being born with microcephaly even in areas of the world not hit by the Zika virus. Many of these cases are caused by cytomegalovirus, or CMV. Unlike Zika, which is only being actively transmitted in a small area of the world, CMV exists virtually everywhere. To reduce these cases, we need to increase awareness of CMV: causes, detection, treatments, etc.