UK Wedding News
01/07/2015
CMV is the leading preventable cause of hearing loss in children, affecting two to three babies born each day.
While around three in five people in the UK could catch CMV at some stage in their lives, catching the virus during pregnancy can lead to stillbirth and miscarriage.
The report, published by campaign group CMV Action, however, says that just one in three adult women of childbearing age have heard of the disease.
As well as identifying the need for further research in certain areas, the report compared current UK practices to those of other nations where reducing CMV infection was given greater attention. For example, where it has been made a priority to find a vaccine, public education levels, and screening at birth. It added that a number of measures required no additional resources from the NHS – like advising pregnant women about how to reduce the risk of CMV infection – in the same way advice is provided about taking folic acid before conception.
Paul Griffiths, professor of virology at University College London, and contributor to the report, explained that simple hygiene measures could help to "significantly" reduce the risk of transmission, but added: "The problem is that this advice is not being followed because women in the UK are not being told about it before and during their pregnancies – we have to address this as a priority."
Professor Neena Modi, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said that problems often occurred if a woman was infected for the first time when pregnant.
Cathy Warwick, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), added: "This excellent expert report highlights the damage CMV can cause to the unborn baby and the need for health professionals to help improve public knowledge as to how the risk of its transmission can be avoided.
"More needs to be done to ensure midwives and others caring for women both before and during pregnancy are equipped to ensure women receive advice about those simple hygiene measures which will help to prevent this virus causing harm to babies.
"The RCM is committed to furthering the recommendations of this report and has recently worked with CMV Action to prepare an educational module for midwives."
(JP)
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Calls To Take Further Action On CMV
There are fresh calls being made to take urgent action to reduce the number of infections occurring in pregnancy that are caused by cytomegalovirus (CMV).CMV is the leading preventable cause of hearing loss in children, affecting two to three babies born each day.
While around three in five people in the UK could catch CMV at some stage in their lives, catching the virus during pregnancy can lead to stillbirth and miscarriage.
The report, published by campaign group CMV Action, however, says that just one in three adult women of childbearing age have heard of the disease.
As well as identifying the need for further research in certain areas, the report compared current UK practices to those of other nations where reducing CMV infection was given greater attention. For example, where it has been made a priority to find a vaccine, public education levels, and screening at birth. It added that a number of measures required no additional resources from the NHS – like advising pregnant women about how to reduce the risk of CMV infection – in the same way advice is provided about taking folic acid before conception.
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Paul Griffiths, professor of virology at University College London, and contributor to the report, explained that simple hygiene measures could help to "significantly" reduce the risk of transmission, but added: "The problem is that this advice is not being followed because women in the UK are not being told about it before and during their pregnancies – we have to address this as a priority."
Professor Neena Modi, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said that problems often occurred if a woman was infected for the first time when pregnant.
Cathy Warwick, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), added: "This excellent expert report highlights the damage CMV can cause to the unborn baby and the need for health professionals to help improve public knowledge as to how the risk of its transmission can be avoided.
"More needs to be done to ensure midwives and others caring for women both before and during pregnancy are equipped to ensure women receive advice about those simple hygiene measures which will help to prevent this virus causing harm to babies.
"The RCM is committed to furthering the recommendations of this report and has recently worked with CMV Action to prepare an educational module for midwives."
(JP)
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