Cytomegalovirus

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a is a common virus that infects people of all ages. CMV is spread from person to person by contact with urine, saliva, breast milk, blood, semen, and possibly other body fluids. The virus can spread from an infected mother to her fetus or newborn baby. CMV can also be spread by blood transfusion and organ transplants.

CMV can be present in the body without causing illness, and can be reactivated later in a person’s life at any time. Most CMV infections are "silent", meaning the majority of people who are infected with CMV have no signs or symptoms, and there are no harmful effects. For those who do have symptoms, they usually include fever, feeling tired, and swollen glands.

However, when CMV occurs during a person’s pregnancy, the baby can become infected before birth.  CMV infection before birth is known as “congenital CMV”. When this happens, the virus gets transmitted to the unborn infant and can cause permanent health problems with the brain, eyes, and/or inner ears.