A new update to the Australian Pregnancy Care Guidelines recommends that all pregnant women be informed about cytomegalovirus (CMV) and hygiene strategies to reduce infection risk. The guidelines also suggest that women at higher risk, such as those with young children or who work with children, be offered a blood test for CMV early in pregnancy.
Congenital CMV is the most common congenital infection and a leading infectious cause of disability in infants.
Each year in Australia, nearly 2000 babies are born with congenital CMV, and approximately 400 develop disabilities including deafness, blindness, cerebral palsy, microcephaly, and epilepsy. The virus is transmitted through bodily fluids and can severely affect the placenta and fetal organs.
Awareness Remains Alarmingly Low
Professor Nadia Badawi, neonatologist and Cerebral Palsy Alliance chair of research, stated that less than 20% of pregnant women are aware of CMV and how to reduce infection risk, and only 10% of maternal health professionals routinely discuss it. Hygiene precautions, such as thorough hand washing and avoiding sharing food or utensils, can reduce infection risk in high-risk women by 70%.
Advocacy and Action
The update comes after advocacy from organizations like CMV Australia, whose president Kate Daly emphasized that every pregnant woman has the right to know about CMV. The Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists released similar recommendations in 2019, but awareness has remained low.
June is CMV Awareness Month.