Common Virus That Could Cause Birth Defects Will Now Be Screened For

The New York State Department of Health will begin screening all newborn babies in the state for congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV), a virus that is the most common  infectious cause of birth defects in America.

The new policy, which goes into effect Monday, will add screening for CMV to the regular tests a baby undergoes when born. For at least the first year, testing will be free for parents.

CMV is a lifelong and very common infection, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting that more than half of adults will be infected by age 40.  Most people with CMV will have no symptoms and may not even know they have it unless they have a weakened immune system. 

It can pass from person-to-person via exchange of body fluids, such as saliva, blood, urine, semen and breast milk. If a pregnant woman is infected, there is a chance she will pass it on to her unborn child.

The CDC reports that one in 200 children born in the U.S. are infected, and of those, about one in five babies with congenital CMV will have long-term health problems, such as hearing loss. 

The Mayo Clinic warns that congenital CMV is also linked to premature birth, low birth weight, jaundice, poorly functioning livers, rashes and skin splotches, an enlarged spleen, seizures or pneumonia. In some cases, symptoms will not appear for years, before a child later suffers hearing or vision issues.

“CMV is a serious threat to newborn health, but it's also preventable,” state Sen. John Mannion (D), said in a statement. 

Sen. Mannion is also among a group of Democratic senators who hope to extend the one year program into a permanent one.

"A lot could be done with early intervention and early treatments. If they are screened, we can do something about it,” he said. “The more you learn about CMV, the more it's glaringly obvious that this is long overdue and we must do it."

“More than 30,000 babies are born with a CMV infection nationwide each year and all too often, families do not realize until symptoms have worsened, often leading to deafness or developmental disabilities,” Sen. Linda Rosenthal (D), a part of Sen. Mannion’s group hoping to further the program, said. “New York State has proven itself as a leader in CMV testing and prevention.”

Babies will be screened through the New York State Newborn Screening Program, which has been in place since the 1960s. Screening is accomplished by taking a heel prick of blood 24 to 36 hours after birth (while the infant is still in the hospital) and is done at no cost to the parents. Earlier screening allows for earlier diagnosis and faster treatment. Originally, the screening tested for only one disorder, but today, screens for over 50 diseases.  

The policy is titled Elizabeth’s Law, after the daughter of Lisa Saunders, a central New York woman whose daughter died from CMV-related complications.