Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

An infection caused by a virus that commonly occurs in early childhood. Currently there is no vaccine to prevent infection or a cure. Most people have been exposed to the virus by the time they are adults.

Most children and adults do not have symptoms. Some may develop fever, sore throat, fatigue, headache, muscle aches and swollen glands in the neck.

People with weakened immune systems can have a more serious, life-threatening illness such as liver infection (hepatitis), pneumonia, anemia and blindness.  Babies can develop brain and growth problems and eye or ear problems if infected before birth.

The virus is not highly contagious, but it has been shown to spread in households and among young children in day care centers through hand-to-mouth contact with contaminated objects.

• CMV spreads from person to person. To get the virus, you must have close, intimate contact with a person’s saliva, urine, or other bodily fluids.
• CMV can be passed by sexual contact and can be passed from a pregnant mother to her baby, by breast milk, transplanted organs, and rarely from blood transfusions.

People with the virus do not need to stay home from work or school. Hospital patients to not need to be separated or put in isolation.

• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water
• Teach people to cover their mouth when sneezing or coughing and not to share food, drink or eating utensils.
• Contact your doctor if you have been in contact with someone who has CMV and you are pregnant or have had an organ transplant or have HIV, AIDS, cancer, or any disease that affects the immune system