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Transmission

CMV is spread from one person to another, usually by close and prolonged contact with bodily fluids. CMV can be found in urine, saliva, blood, feces, tears, and other bodily fluids. You cannot catch CMV by simply being in the same room with someone, unless bodily fluids are exchanged. Additionally, there is no information to indicate CMV is transmitted in the air.

CMV is very common among healthy children 1 to 3 years of age who are at high risk for contracting CMV from their peers. Contact with the saliva or urine of young children is a major cause of CMV infection among pregnant women, especially mothers, daycare workers, preschool teachers, therapists, and nurses. Women who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant who have close contact with young children should practice CMV prevention measures while pregnant to prevent against congenital CMV.


Transmission during Pregnancy

CMV can be transmitted to the unborn child from a mother with a primary or a recurrent CMV infection. When a baby catches CMV prior to birth it is known as a congenital CMV infection. Approximately 90 percent of all infants who are infected with CMV prior to delivery are born without symptoms of the virus; however, the remaining ten percent will have varying degrees of abnormalities.

Transmission during Birth

CMV can be transmitted to newborns via contact with maternal genital secretions during delivery or through breast milk. However, infections that occur through these routes usually result in little or no clinical illness in the newborn, unless the newborn is very premature.

Transmission during Breastfeeding

There are no recommendations against breastfeeding by mothers who are shedding CMV. The potential benefits of human milk versus the risk of CMV transmission should be considered when making a decision about breastfeeding of very low birth weight newborns (birth weight <1500 g) by mothers known to have an active CMV infection. Preterm newborns <1000g birth weight and <30 weeks gestational age may be at high risk of an acquired (after birth, in the newborn period) symptomatic CMV infection and may present a sepsis-like syndrome. Freezing and pasteurization of breast milk can decrease the risk of transmission; however, freezing does not eliminate the risk of transmission.

Shedding

People with an active CMV infection sometimes shed the virus in body fluids, such as urine, saliva, blood, tears, semen, and breast milk. The shedding of virus may take place intermittently, without any detectable signs, and without causing symptoms.

Most children born with congenital CMV will shed the virus through the toddler and preschool age. It is not necessary to determine if a child still has the active virus because it does not appear to influence or predict problems. Additionally, children born with congenital CMV pose no threat to their peers and no more of a threat to those at risk for CMV infection (ie. pregnant women) than would any other child.

CMV is a very common virus in healthy young children, not just those who are born with congenital CMV. It is estimated that up to 70 percent of healthy children between 1 and 3 years of age may have CMV. Healthy children who get CMV from their peers will not experience the same outcome as those children infected during pregnancy; they will not become deaf, disabled, and will not suffer long-term medical effects from their exposure to CMV.

Daycares, preschools, schools, therapists, churches, and community members should not require a child to be tested for CMV shedding before being accepted into a program. Screening of children for CMV infection is not recommended, and infected children should not be excluded from school or other settings. No one should not discriminate against a child born with congenital CMV.

Standard hygiene practices are advised for all persons caring for children. Click here for more information about preventative measures to protect against CMV.

Other Transmission Questions

Let's clear up some of the confusion surrounding CMV, the populations most at risk for acquiring the virus, and the facts and fiction about CMV transmission and contagion.


What is the connection between CMV and Herpes?

CMV is a member of the Herpesvirus family because it shares the similar characteristic of a latency/dormant (DEFINE THIS) period within the body, similar to Chicken Pox, which is also classified as a Herpesvirus. CMV is NOT exclusively transmitted through genital (sexual) contact, like the Herpes simplex viruses (Genital herpes). In fact, CMV infections are frequently associated with salivary glands, with the earliest researchers finding CMV cells within the salivary glands of infected newborns.

Herpesvirus is a large family of DNA viruses that cause diseases in humans and animals. The members of this family are also known as Herpesviruses. Herpes is derived from the Greek word herpein ("to creep"), referring to the characteristic ability to remain latent within the body over long periods of time. While primary (active) infection is often accompanied by a period of clinical illness, long-term latency is symptom-free.

Members of the herpesvirus family include the following:

  • Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) - Causes oral and occasionally genital cold-sores
  • Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) - Causes genital herpes
  • Varicella zoster virus (VZV) - Causes chickenpox and shingles
  • Cytomegalovirus (CMV) - Causes mononucleosis-like illness and infections
  • Human Herpes Virus 6 (HHV-6) - Causes roseola (a skin rash with associated fever)
  • Human Herpes Virus 7 (HHV-7) - Causes pityriasis rosea (a skin rash) and mononucleosis-like illness
  • Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) - Causes Infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever)
  • Kaposi’s sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV or HHV-8) - Causes Kaposi’s sarcoma, a form of skin cancer

Transmission of the herpesviruses varies, with most being transmitted through bodily fluids, such as saliva, urine, tears, blood, mucus, etc. and few being transmitted primarily through genital (sexual) contact. For more information about CMV transmission, click here.


Is CMV considered an STD (sexually transmitted disease)?

No. An STD is an illness that is primarily transmitted between people by sexual behavior. CMV is generally passed from infected people to others through direct contact with body fluids, such as urine, saliva, or breast milk. It can also be spread through transplanted organs and blood transfusions. While CMV can sometimes be transmitted via vaginal or seminal fluids, it is not considered an STD because it is not primarily and solely transmitted via sexual intercourse or activity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) do not consider CMV to be an STD. For more information about CMV transmission, click here.


Do people with CMV or congenital CMV have HIV?

No--quite the opposite. CMV is an “opportunistic” virus that takes advantage of people with a weakened immune system. CMV is a serious threat to patients with HIV and frequently causes serious disease and death to those with Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV is a virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in humans in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections. CMV is one of the most common opportunistic infections found in people with HIV, AIDS, or those who have undergone organ transplantation. For these people, CMV infection is a major cause of pneumonia, blindness, and death. Exposing these people to outside sources of CMV should be minimized to avoid the risk of serious infection. For more information about CMV, click here.


Can a child with congenital CMV give it to my child? What will happen to my child if they catch CMV?

Children born with congenital CMV pose no threat to their peers and no more of a threat to those at risk for CMV infection (including pregnant women) than would any other child. CMV is a very common virus in young children and children who get CMV from their peers will not experience the same outcome as those who are infected during pregnancy.

CMV is a very common virus in young children, not just those who are born with congenital CMV. CMV either has no symptoms or manifests as a fever, sore throat, swollen glands, or tiredness for less than a week. Children who get CMV from their peers will not experience the same outcome as those who are infected during pregnancy. They will not become deaf, disabled and will suffer no long-term medical effects from their exposure to CMV.


Should I avoid children born with congenital CMV while I'm pregnant?

Children born with congenital CMV are no more of a threat to pregnant women than otherwise typical, healthy children. It is wise for pregnant women to take precautions around all babies and small children to protect against CMV. CMV is a very common virus in young children and it is estimated that up to 70 percent of healthy children between 1 and 3 years of age may have CMV. This can be transmitted to pregnant women via bodily fluids, including saliva, urine, tears, blood, mucus, etc.

Pregnant women are advised to take precautions around all babies and small children in order to prevent the transmission of CMV. For more information about CMV prevention measures, click here.