Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common congenital infection found in developed countries. Pregnant women who contract CMV can pass the virus onto their unborn baby, which can result in multiple disabilities including: hearing loss, vision loss, poor brain growth, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and, in rare cases, fetal death. Recognizing the lack of awareness about CMV and its potential devastating effects on babies, Utah lawmakers led the nation by passing a bill that directs the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) to establish a public education program to raise awareness about CMV and ways to prevent its spread. As part of the education effort, UDOH, public health advocates, and healthcare providers came together to share ideas of how to get the CMV message out to women who are pregnant or may become pregnant. The Cytomegalovirus Public Health & Policy Conference is part of this effort. The goal of the conference is to provide education, delineate prevention efforts, offer information about early intervention options, help other states in replicating Utah's policy efforts, and disseminate family support resources in an effort to reduce the number of babies born with CMV and connect families affected by CMV with the resources they need to improve their quality of life.
