{"id":633,"date":"2021-04-22T20:07:07","date_gmt":"2021-04-22T20:07:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/early-hearing-detection-and-intervention\/?page_id=633"},"modified":"2025-08-01T14:18:31","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T14:18:31","slug":"congenital-cytomegalovirus-ccmv","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/early-hearing-detection-and-intervention\/congenital-cytomegalovirus-ccmv\/","title":{"rendered":"Congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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What is CMV?<\/h2>\n

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a serious but preventable virus. When a person has contracted CMV, often they may have cold or flu like symptoms or no symptoms at all. It is highly prevalent among healthy children ages one to five years old. One in three five-year-olds are infected, especially in daycare and preschool environments. CMV is primarily transmitted through contact with the saliva of an individual actively carrying the virus. Asymptomatic toddlers can also shed the virus for extended periods, ranging from three to six months or longer.<\/p>\n

When a pregnant woman contracts CMV, there is a significant risk (1 in 3 cases) that she will pass the virus to her unborn child. CMV can cross the placenta and lead to serious complications for the baby such as developmental disabilities, microcephaly, and hearing loss. This is known as congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV).<\/p>\n

Congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is the most common viral infection and the leading non-genetic cause of hearing loss among infants born in the United States. Approximately 1 in 200 babies are born with cCMV each year. Hearing loss may manifest at birth or later in early childhood. Despite its prevalence, only 9% of women are aware of CMV. Approximately 50% of children affected by cCMV will experience further deterioration in their hearing over time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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