The best way to protect your baby is to protect yourself. 

Since the CMV is generally passed from the infected person to others through direct contact with body fluids, such as saliva, take these steps:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for 15-20 seconds, especially after diaper changes, feeding a young child, wiping a child's nose or drool, and handling a child's toys. 
• Don't share food, drinks, eating and drinking utensils, or a toothbrush with a child.
• Do not put a child's pacifier in your mouth.
• Avoid contact with a child's saliva when kissing or cuddling. 
• Use soap and water or a mild disinfectant to clean toys, counter-tops and other surfaces that may have a child's saliva or urine on them. 

Newborn Testing for Congenital Cytomegalovirus

The Iowa Legislature passed a law in 2017 requiring newborn health care providers to offer testing for cCMV for any of their patients that did not pass their newborn hearing screening (the first test usually done in the hospital and the second re-screen done on an outpatient basis if they did not pass the first test). Information about this law may be found at the following links:

Senate File 51 

IDPH Summary of Senate File 51

CMV Testing Flow Chart

Here is information about what is involved in testing a baby for cCMV:

CMV Testing Information for Parents

You may refuse to have your baby tested for cCMV for any reason. If you decide to refuse the screening you will be asked to sign a refusal form which is submitted to the Iowa Department of Public Health. 

Newborn Hearing Screening and Congenital Cytomegalovirus brochure

Congenital Cytomegalovirus - Support and Next Steps

More information:

CMV Brochure for Women

CMV Brochure for Child Care Providers

Click here for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) CMV Website

Click here for information from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Most children and adults infected with CMV don't feel ill and don't know that they have become infected; others might have mild flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, tiredness, or swollen glands.

A blood, saliva, or urine test can tell whether a person has ever been infected with CMV.

Infants and children who are infected with CMV after birth rarely have problems. 

There is no vaccine available to prevent CMV infection. However, a few CMV vaccines are being tested in humans. It is likely to be a few years before the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a CMV vaccine. 

Women who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, and who have close contact with young children, should discuss their risk for CMV infection with their health care provider.