Minneapolis, MN | September 7-9, 2025 – Dr. Norma Tavakoli, PhD, of the Wadsworth Center was a featured speaker at the Congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV) Public Health and Policy Conference, hosted by the University of Minnesota. Her presentation, “A Pilot Study in New York State to Screen Newborns for Congenital Cytomegalovirus,” highlighted groundbreaking work conducted by the New York State Newborn Screening Program.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common viral infection that can cause hearing loss, vision problems, developmental delays, seizures, and other serious health issues in newborns. Approximately 10% of congenitally infected infants show symptoms at birth, with an additional 10–15% developing hearing loss later in childhood.
In New York’s one-year pilot study (October 2023–October 2024), ~208,000 newborns were screened, of which 529 screened positive and were referred for follow-up. A total of 68 infants were diagnosed with congenital CMV disease, and over 70% received antiviral treatment, which is most effective when initiated early to improve hearing and developmental outcomes.
Several states are moving toward routine newborn screening for CMV: Minnesota added CMV in 2023, Connecticut in 2025, and others are considering adoption. New York’s pilot study, funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), provides critical evidence to inform these public health decisions nationwide.