February 2016

The Real Story of Congenital CMV

Imagine giving birth to a baby and finding out that your baby was exposed to a dangerous virus during your pregnancy. This virus, cytomegalovirus (CMV), could have a questionable impact on your child's development and prognosis and you have no outlook as to what your child's life and medical situation would be. 

CALL TO ACTION - Senate Appropriations Subcommittee discussion of CMV

On Thursday February 11th, the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the United State Senate Appropriations Committee will hold a hearing entitled "Emerging Health Threats and the Zika Supplemental Funding Request". Testifying at this hearing will be Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). 
 

​This week: Tennessee committee hearings for CMV bill

Recently introduced CMV legislation in the state of Tennessee is going to be discussed in two state committee hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. We need your help! We are asking that all Tennessee families and supporters please make the following phone calls this week to support this committee process and to help this CMV awareness bill advance in the statehouse.

Help support Iowa CMV legislation

We are excited to announce the introduction of CMV legislation in the state of Iowa and are asking for residents of Iowa to please help us with this effort. The CMV Education and Screening Bill was inspired by Pippa Devereaux, who was born with congenital CMV, and is being supported by her mother, Amanda, from Des Moines. We ask that parents, professionals, and supporters take the time to email each of the members of the Human Resources Committee and state your support for this CMV Education and Screening Bill that is currently in the Human Resources Committee. 

The Brendan B. McGinnis Fund at the National CMV Foundation

The National CMV Foundation is pleased to announce the establishment of the Brendan B. McGinnis Fund, made possible by a nearly $20,000 donation from the former Brendan B. McGinnis Congenital CMV Foundation. The fund will help to sponsor family scholarships and a family gathering at the CMV Public Health and Policy Conference in Austin, Texas on September 26^th and 27^th. The National CMV Foundation also hopes to continue the tradition of an award for researchers dedicated to advancing CMV vaccine development.Donors interested in supporting the Brendan B. McGinnis fund can make their donation “in honor of” Brendan B. McGinnis at: https://www.nationalcmv.org/get-involved/donate.aspx.