Declare CMV Awareness Month

Senate Resolution No. 183 BY: Senator RIVERA MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 2019, as Cytomegalovirus Awareness Month in the State of New York WHEREAS, The State of New York takes great pride in recognizing serious diseases by proclaiming official months to increase awareness of such concerns, which affect thousands of New Yorkers; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 2019, as Cytomegalovirus Awareness Month in the State of New York; and WHEREAS, Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common viral infection transmitted from a pregnant woman to her unborn child, and the leading non-genetic cause of deafness in children; the majority of people who are infected with CMV have no signs or symptoms, and while there are no harmful side effects, it can be devastating to a fetus; and WHEREAS, One in 150 children are born with congenital CMV; every year, 20,000 to 40,000 infants are born with CMV and roughly 400 children die from CMV annually; congenital CMV infection is largely undetected because the majority of infants are asymptomatic at birth; and WHEREAS, At least 20% of infants with CMV have or develop permanent disabilities, such as hearing loss, microcephaly, intellectual deficits and vision abnormalities; and WHEREAS, CMV is transmitted by contact with saliva and urine, often from diaper-wearing children to adults; pregnant women often get CMV from their toddlers, especially toddlers in day care, as nearly one in three children are infected by age five; and WHEREAS, It is difficult for mothers to protect themselves from a virus carried by the children they care for, especially if they are unaware of the virus itself; less than one in five pregnant women are aware of cytomegalovirus; and WHEREAS, Few women are warned about this infection, and according to a federal survey, less than half of obstetrician-gynecologists tell pregnant patients how to avoid CMV; and WHEREAS, It is imperative that women are educated about the virus itself and simple preventative measures, such as not sharing food with toddlers, and washing ones hands after changing infants and toddlers diapers; and WHEREAS, A test for CMV can be done immediately upon receiving the results from the newborn infant hearing screening, which typically occurs at a facility before a newborn is discharged; and WHEREAS, Significantly, infants who receive a timely diagnosis can be given hearing aids or access to early-intervention programs to have the best chance of learning to talk; recent evidence suggests that routine screening of newborns could allow infected infants to receive consistent monitoring and treatment if necessary, ultimately increasing his or her chance of optimized developmental care; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 2019, as Cytomegalovirus Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York.