Assembly Resolution No. 346

BY: M. of A. Rosenthal L

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
June 2021, 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 2021, as Cytomegalovirus
Awareness Month in the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, In 2011, Congress passed a resolution naming June as
National CMV Awareness Month; CDC takes this opportunity to increase
awareness of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) among healthcare
providers, pregnant women, and parents; and

WHEREAS, 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 200 children are born with congenital CMV and
roughly 1 in 5 of those babies will have long-term health problems such
as hearing loss, microcephaly, intellectual deficits and vision
abnormalities; and

WHEREAS, Each year, 400 children die from congenital CMV, in part
because the majority of infants are asymptomatic at birth; and

WHEREAS, In adults, the CDC estimates over half of adults have been
infected with CMV by age 40; and

WHEREAS, CMV is also 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 one's 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 2021, 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.