Senate Resolution No. 3267

BY: Senator HANNON

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
June 2018 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 2018 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 2018 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.