Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Infection
Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Infection
CMV is a common virus that infects most people, but rarely causes illness. Most people have been exposed to CMV by adulthood.
Cause
Cytomegalovirus (CMV), a member of the herpesvirus family.
Symptoms
Most people have no symptoms. Occasionally, a person may develop mononucleosis-like symptoms that include fever, sore throat, tiredness, and swollen glands.
Some groups (e.g., those with a weakened immune system due to chemotherapy, organ transplants, or HIV infection) are at special risk for more serious infections. About 5% of children whose mothers were infected during pregnancy may have birth defects such as hearing loss, developmental delay, and delays in development. Babies can be infected in utero.
Spread
Most commonly through contact with saliva or urine of an infected person, but can also be spread through contact with blood, breast milk, and other secretions. Close, prolonged physical contact is necessary for spread to occur. CMV spreads easily in child care settings, most often among children who drool and/or are in diapers and have no symptoms.
Incubation
Unknown for person-to-person spread.
Contagious Period
Virus may be present in urine or saliva for long periods of time, even in people with no symptoms. The virus dies rapidly outside the body.
Exclusion
Child Care and School: None.
Treatment
None.
Prevention/Control
- Regular and thorough handwashing is the best way to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm running water after changing diapers, assisting a child in the bathroom, having contact with a child's saliva or urine, or before preparing food or eating.
- Minimize contact with children’s saliva by not kissing their lips or hands and by not having mouth contact with items that could be contaminated by saliva.
- Clean and disinfect items contaminated with saliva or urine.
- In addition to the above recommendations, female child care providers who are pregnant may consider working with only children older than 2 ½ years of age, especially if they have never been infected with CMV or are unsure if they have been exposed. However, contact with children that does not involve exposure to saliva or urine poses no risk.
For more information, call the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MDHSS) Bureau of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention at 573-751-6113 or 800-392-0272 (24/7), or call your local health department.
CMV Parent Fact Sheet
Your child may have been exposed to:
CMV
CMV (cytomegalovirus) is a common virus that infects most people, but rarely causes illness.
If you think your child has CMV:
- Tell your child care provider.
- Need to stay home?
- Child Care and School:
No.
- Child Care and School:
Symptoms
Most people have no symptoms. Very rarely, a person may develop symptoms. These symptoms include fever, sore throat, tiredness, and swollen glands.
Spread
Through direct contact with saliva, urine, blood, breast milk, or other bodily fluids of an infected person.
Contagious Period
Virus may be in urine or saliva for long periods of time.
Call your Healthcare Provider
- If anyone in your home has symptoms of CMV.
Prevention
- Wash hands after using the toilet, changing diapers, touching secretions from the nose or mouth, and before preparing food or eating. Your child may need help with handwashing.
- Clean and disinfect objects that come in contact with urine or saliva. Use a product that kills viruses.
- Minimize contact with children’s saliva. Avoid kissing their lips or hands.
- DO NOT have mouth contact with items contaminated with saliva.
For more information, call the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MDHSS) Bureau of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention at 573-751-6113 or 800-392-0272 (24/7), or call your local health department.