Final CMV awareness infographic available

Final CMV awareness infographic available

2016's National CMV Awareness Month has concluded and we want to thank all of our supporters for helping us to make this June's awareness campaign a success! Each week of June featured a different themed awareness infographic, as well as ideas for photos and social media posts that helped our community to educate their family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors about the dangers of congenital CMV. Keep June awareness going all year long and post the final, complete CMV awareness infographic featuring all four themes and corresponding CMV facts!

Week 1 (June 1-7): CMV is common

• 1 in 150 children is born with congenital CMV
• CMV is the most common virus transmitted from a pregnant woman to her unborn child
• 1 in 3 pregnant women who get CMV will pass the virus to their unborn child
• CMV is more common than the 29 combined metabolic and endocrine disorders in the recommended US newborn screening panel

Week 2 (June 8-14): CMV is serious

• Every hour, one child is permanently disabled by CMV
• CMV is the leading non-genetic cause of childhood hearing loss
• CMV also causes vision loss, mental disability, microcephaly, cerebral palsy, behavior issues, and seizures
• 90% of babies born with CMV will appear healthy at birth
• 400 children die from CMV every year
• Scientific research has found a connection between CMV and miscarriage

Week 3 (June 15-21): CMV is preventable

• Pregnant women who already have young children, or who work with young children, are at highest risk of catching CMV
• CMV is found in home and daycare settings
• 75% of toddlers have CMV in their urine and saliva in studies at childcare settings
• Avoid contact with saliva – kiss kids under the age of 6 on the forehead instead of lips or cheek
• Wash your hands after contact with bodily fluids of children under the age of 6
• Don’t share utensils, drinks, or toothbrushes with children under the age of 6

Week 4 (June 22-30): More about CMV

• Women are not routinely screened for CMV during pregnancy
• CMV vaccines are still in the research and development stage
• Only 9% of women have heard of CMV
• Several US states are improving CMV education through partnerships and legislation
• Silver is the official color of CMV awareness
• June is National CMV Awareness Month