Researchers are trying to create a vaccine that they hope will prevent one of the leading causes of
cerebral palsy and other birth defects.
The Virus
The culprit is a little-known, but very common virus that does little to no harm to most people, but can devastate a fetus if the mother is infected during pregnancy. This virus is known as the cyto-megalovirus (CMV). Between 10 and 15 percent of children born to mothers infected with CMV develop disabilities such as cerebral palsy or mental retardation.
About 50 to 80 percent of all adults have had CMV infections according to Centers for Disease Control estimates.
The virus typically infects children and often goes unnoticed but for mild, flu-like symptoms. There are usually no problems unless the infected person is pregnant.
“CMV is the second most common cause of mental retardation in children after Down’s syndrome and is the most common infection that cause[s] deafness in babies,” said Infectious disease specialist Mark Schleiss.
Ten to 15 percent of babies whose mothers are infected with CMV during their pregnancy develop birth defects.
“The goal of this vaccine is to try to confer immunity to a woman before delivery and then prevent transmission of CMV to the developing baby,” said Dr. Mark Schleiss, who is working on the vaccine.
CMV Testing and Vaccine Development
Human trial testing may be years away, but in the meantime, “There are some women who are at increased risk for infection and transmission, and I think it all has to start with a dialogue between [a] women and her primary care provider or her obstetrician,” Schleiss said.
Women who go in for prenatal testing are not generally tested for CMV. However, experts recommend that women who are considering getting pregnant discuss CMV testing with their doctors – especially if they work around children.
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