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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. 

CMV awareness is dangerously low as compared to other congenital diseases

Even though congenital CMV is the leading viral cause of congenital disabilities and the leading non-genetic cause of childhood hearing loss, most adults have never heard of it. 

The CDC Releases New CMV Materials

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released two new resources for health care professionals about congenital CMV in June 2017, National CMV Awareness Month. The information sheets, produced and published by the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), provide much needed information for healthcare providers who work with two distinct populations affected by congenital CMV—pregnant women and their newborns. 

​Key Observations from the 2017 International CMV Conference

Approximately 300 of the world’s leading experts in CMV-related research came together in the Netherlands on April 30th for the 6th International CMV Conference (16th International CMV/betaherpesvirus Workshop). This event aims to connect basic science and clinical expertise research to prevent and cure CMV diseases. Several trusted advisors to the National CMV Foundation and members of our Research Priorities Committee attended and presented on current studies and recent findings. 

Meet the Founders: Kristen Hutchinson Spytek

Kristen is the current President of the National CMV Foundation. Read as she recounts her personal journey along with pertinent CMV information from her guest blog on MotherToBaby.org: "CMV. The Most Common Viral Infection Affecting Newborns That You've Never Heard About".

​National CMV Foundation Sponsors $45,000 CMV Research Award

The National CMV Foundation is excited to announce that it made its first research award in May 2017. Through the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society (PIDS), the foundation awarded a two-year, $45,000 fellowship award to Frances Saccoccio, MD, PhD. Dr. Saccoccio is a 2nd year pediatric infectious disease fellow at Duke University. She is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicines’ combined MD/PhD Program and her dissertation and other research work has focused on congenital CMV vaccines. 

​Get Involved: 6 Ways to Support National CMV This June

June is National CMV Awareness Month. National CMV Awareness Month is a time to educate your community about congenital CMV. Spreading CMV awareness in medical practices, therapy centers, daycares and schools is a great way to celebrate June and promote prevention practices so we may eliminate congenital CMV for the next generation. 

Important information about CMV for OB/GYNs

​There is a prominent health threat in our nation that is slipping under the radar: CMV. With the help of OB/GYNs, we can raise awareness and empower pregnant women, protecting their babies through simple prevention methods and giving them options for treatment if they do contract this virus.

How family and friends can support loved ones affected by CMV

​There is a very old saying that goes, "It takes a village to raise a child." When that child has special needs, this is especially true. Family and friends are a critical part of life when you have a child with CMV, but sometimes it's hard to know what to do. National CMV can help you learn more - about CMV, about the special needs each child might face, and about what your family member or friend might need most right now.

Tech exec/CMV dad discusses raising CMV awareness online

Silicon Valley executive Wade Chambers has not only sat on the board of directors of both the National CMV Foundation and Stop CMV, but he also has twin daughters born with congenital CMV. Wade's professional past in tech has seen stints at Netscape, AOL, Opsware, and Yahoo, but his current role is serving as a Vice President of Engineering for Twitter. We sat down with Wade to get his insights into how the issue of CMV can leverage exising and emerging technologies to raise awareness and encourage advocacy. 

​International CMV consensus report published in the Lancet

A consensus report from the International Congenital Cytomegalovirus Recommendations Group was recently published in the UK medical journal, the Lancet. The report, entitled “Congenital cytomegalovirus infection in pregnancy and the neonate: consensus recommendations for prevention, diagnosis, and therapy”, is the result of an international consensus meeting held in Brisbane, Australia at the 5th International Congenital Cytomegalovirus Conference.