CDC Funds Congenital CMV Research With $750,000 Grant

Author: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Published: 2010/10/07 - Updated: 2026/01/14
Publication Type: Announcement
Category Topic: Finance - Related Publications

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates

Synopsis: This announcement details a CDC grant supporting research into congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV), the most common infection present at birth in the United States. The information comes directly from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and provides reliable data about a condition affecting roughly 1 percent of all newborns. Parents, expectant mothers, pediatricians, and families raising children with disabilities will find this particularly valuable because it addresses a largely unknown virus that can cause progressive hearing loss, vision impairment, and developmental challenges. The research aims to analyze three decades of screening data to better understand CMV's connection to behavioral conditions like autism and ADHD, potentially helping thousands of families get earlier diagnoses and intervention services for affected children - Disabled World (DW).

Introduction

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has granted researchers at Baylor College of Medicine a two-year, $750,000 grant to study the long-term effects of congenital cytomegalovirus, or CMV, a virus that causes disease in infants who are infected before birth.

Main Content

"CMV is the most common infection present at birth, but few people have heard of it," said Dr. Gail Demmler Harrison, professor of pediatrics-infectious disease at BCM and Texas Children's Hospital. "It affects about 1 percent of all newborns in the United States."

Of those newborns affected, about 15 percent have silent CMV, where it is not immediately known that they have the infection. These newborns have a chance of slowly losing their hearing or vision, said Demmler Harrison, who will be leading the study at BCM. Those who have CMV symptoms at birth account for about 10 percent and are likely to have more severe outcomes with hearing, vision and mental disability.

In this study, Demmler Harrison and colleagues will analyze 30 years of data collected on newborns who were diagnosed with CMV through a newborn screening program conducted over 10 years. Researchers hope to determine the long-term effects of the disease and study whether it is associated with behavioral problems such as autism and ADHD and learning disabilities.

"CMV is an important virus that all women of child-bearing age should be aware of. It is transmitted to women from infants and toddlers through infected body fluids, so pregnant women should be sure they wash their hands frequently, not share food or drinks with infants and avoid getting children's urine and saliva on hands or in the eyes, nose or mouth," said Demmler Harrison.

Further Information on Cytomegalovirus

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: While cytomegalovirus remains relatively unknown compared to other prenatal infections, this research represents a critical step toward changing that reality. The fact that such a common birth infection flies under the radar of most parents and even some healthcare providers points to a broader need for public health education around preventable causes of childhood disability. As researchers work to untangle the long-term effects of CMV - particularly its potential links to autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities - one thing becomes clear: simple prevention measures like handwashing and avoiding saliva contact with young children could spare countless families from unexpected challenges. The real question is how long it will take for CMV awareness to reach the same level as other prenatal health concerns that affect far fewer children - Disabled World (DW).

Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and published on 2010/10/07, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.