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Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

About Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus in children and adults that spreads easily through bodily fluids including saliva (drool/spit/snot), urine (pee), blood, and breast milk. It is usually harmless, and most people do not know they have it. 

Sometimes a pregnant person passes CMV to their baby during pregnancy. When a baby is born with a CMV infection, it is called congenital cytomegalovirus or cCMV. Most babies born with congenital CMV grow and develop typically, while others may have long-term health issues including hearing loss, vision loss, developmental delays, and seizures. These health issues can range from minor to severe and may be present at birth or develop later in childhood. 

In Oregon, there are about 225 babies born with cCMV each year. 
 

CMV is passed from infected people to others through direct contact with bodily fluids, including: 
  • Saliva (drool) 
  • Mucus (snot) 
  • Urine (pee) 
  • Blood 
  • Breast milk
  • Semen 

Most healthy people infected with CMV don’t feel sick so they don’t know they have been infected. Some people will have mild flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, fatigue, or swollen glands.

Pregnant people are often exposed to CMV by caring for babies and young children with CMV who may only have cold-like symptoms or no symptoms at all.  

Pregnant people can pass CMV to their unborn baby if they are newly infected or have a reactivation of a prior infection during pregnancy. Pregnant people who have a new infection are at greater risk of passing it to their unborn child and having long term health impacts, especially when they get it during their first trimester. 

It is important to take precautions while pregnant to reduce the risk of contracting CMV. 

If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, the best way to protect your baby from CMV is to protect yourself. Here are some tips to reducing the spread or getting it: 
  • Wash hands often with soap and water, especially after changing diapers, wiping noses or drool, or touching objects that have been drooled on.   
  • Avoid sharing food, drinks, and toothbrushes, or putting a child’s utensils, straws, or pacifier in your mouth.   
  • If you are pregnant, kiss your child(ren) on the head or cheek to avoid contact with saliva.  
  • Clean and disinfect surface areas and toys regularly.

​Anyone can get CMV. 

Since CMV is common in young children, people who work with them are more likely to get CMV. If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy and work in a setting with children, it is important to take steps to reduce your risk.  

​In Oregon, hospitals and birthing centers screen newborns for signs and risk factors at birth. If a baby has one or more signs or risk factors for cCMV, they test for CMV within a baby’s first 14 days of life. Testing should happen within 21 days of age to make a diagnosis of cCMV and get connected to care. 

​CMV testing is easy and doesn’t hurt. It uses either saliva (spit) or urine. Saliva is collected with a swab from the mouth and urine is collected in a plastic bag. The test result usually comes back in 2 to 7 days. The result is sent to the medical provider who ordered the test and the medical provider who will be seeing your baby ongoing as they get older. Parents will receive the results too.

​If your baby tests positive for CMV, it is very important that you follow up with your baby’s medical team as quickly as possible to get more information on next steps. Your baby may need additional testing and to see other medical specialists to monitor their development and check for health problems. Some babies may need medicine and support from early intervention specialists. These are most helpful the earlier they start so following up with your baby’s medical team as soon as possible is important.  

Babies with congenital CMV need regular checkups to watch for any problems as they grow. If you have concerns about your baby’s development, check with their medical team. 

 If your baby was not tested for CMV within 21 days of age and you have concerns that your baby was born with congenital CMV, you may request that a lab test your baby’s newborn bloodspot screening card within 1 year of age. Speak with your baby’s medical team about this process. The following documents are required to submit requests:  

  1. Request for Specimen Transfer for CMV Testing at a Reference Laboratory Form (pdf) 
    Note: Fill out this form and give to your child’s medical provider for submission.  
  2. A copy of the parent or legal guardian's government-issued identification (ID) 


For Hospitals, Birthing Centers, and Primary Care Providers

Hospitals and birthing centers must begin screening newborns for congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV), pursuant to Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) 333-020-0125 through 333-020-0187, no later than April 1, 2026. Hospitals and birthing centers must conduct cCMV screening based on the Congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV) Screening Protocol established by OHA, which includes:  
  • assessing each newborn for known risk factors and clinical signs of cCMV, and   
  • as necessary, based on the presence of one or more of the risk factors or clinical signs, conduct CMV testing.  
The screening must be completed prior to discharge or within 14 days of age, whichever occurs earlier, unless parents or guardians refuse in writing. If the hospital or birthing center is part of a licensed Health Maintenance Organization facility, screening must occur within 14 days of age. 

In addition to the cCMV screening requirements, hospitals and birthing centers are required to inform parents or guardians and the primary care provider of the newborn of any positive CMV test result following screening through direct personal communication. 
As part of the OARs, OHA established two protocols:  

OHA CMV Prevention Flyer (May 2025)
Available in multiple languages below.​
  • If a child was not tested for CMV, parents and guardians should receive this flyer. 
OHA Congenital CMV Parent Testing Flyer 
English version below.
Will​ be available in multiple languages by February 2026
  • If a child had one or more risk factors or clinical signs of CMV and were recommended for testing, parents and guardians should receive this flyer. 

Requesting the Newborn Bloodspot Card for CMV Testing 
If you would like to request a transfer of a child’s residual bloodspot specimen for CMV testing within 1 year of age, the Oregon State Public Health Lab (OSPHL) will transfer residual bloodspot specimens to a reference laboratory at the request of the parent or legal guardian of the infant and the ordering medical provider.  
To make this request, submit: 
Fax the three documents to the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory at 503-693-5602. For more information, visit:  https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/LABORATORYSERVICES/NEWBORNSCREENING/Pages/specimen-use.aspx.  

General Resources

Printed versions of English and Spanish CMV handouts are available upon request. Please send an email with your name, organization, and requested quantity to:  
MCHSection.Mailbox@odhsoha.oregon.gov or call 971-673-0252 (voice or text).​
CMV.PNG

If a child had one or more risk factors or clinical signs of CMV and were recommended for testing, parents and guardians should receive this flyer. 

Will​ be available in multiple languages by February 2026
  • English​
  • Spanish
  • Arabic
  • Chuukese
  • Japanese
  • Korean
  • Marshallese
  • Russian
  • Simplified Chinese
  • Somali
  • Traditional Chinese
  • Ukrainian
  • Vietna​mese
    ​

History of CMV Legislation in Oregon

2017 – HB 2754 passed and created new educational requirements for the Oregon Health Authority to distribute information about congenital cytomegalovirus to hospitals, birthing centers, diagnostic audiology facilities, healthcare providers, audiologist, and the public.  
2025 – HB 2685 passed and created new requirements for licensed hospitals and birthing centers to conduct expanded targeted congenital cytomegalovirus screening for all newborns within 14 days of birth. Additionally, it updated the distribution requirements for cCMV educational materials to including childcare facilities, the Department of Early Learning and Care, and prenatal healthcare providers. No later than April 1, 2026, all hospitals and birthing centers in Oregon begin conducting cCMV screening at their facilities.