Homepage

New York State Begins Newborn Screening for CCMV New York State Begins Newborn Screening for CCMV

Per OHSA.gov, about 40,000 pregnant women contract virus annually

By Liam Griffin

{ANCHOR}
“Starting today, all babies will be screened for a herpes-related virus, making New York the second state to do so after Minnesota. Our Liam Griffin is live at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital with the details.”

{REPORTER}
“Good evening Joe and Chile, today is National Child Health Day, and over the weekend the New York State Department of Health announced that it will require newborns to be screened for yet another disease.”

{VO}
“The congenital cytomegalovirus, or CCMV, is a virus commonly found in babies when a pregnant person contracts it and gives it to their developing child. 10% of babies who screen positives have symptoms, including rashes, low birth weight, and seizures. Long-term effects include loss of hearing or vision. Upstate University Hospital ambassadors see this as an important step towards normal childhoods for all.”

{SOT}
“These kids are really just, they’re so innocent and they have their whole lives ahead of them, so anything that we can do to just like, keep that pureness inside of them- no kid should be spending their time at a hospital, they should be on a playground or at school.”

{SOT}
“Sometimes it’s unfortunate that families can’t provide, so we are here just to give back and try to do as much as possible.

{VO}
“But, the reaction wasn’t all positive.”

{SOT}
“It’s against human rights, that’s my general answer it’s against human rights to screen babies.”

{VO}
“Well, even if you believe it’s against human rights, the Department of Health’s declaration went into effect today, and the Upstate Hospital Ambassadors- who both hope to become parents in the future- feel better about raising a kid in New York.”

{SOT}
“I think that’s great, I think that’ll help a lot in terms of prevention and getting things caught beforehand, so hopefully less kids have to deal with illnesses.”

{REPORTER}
“The timing is fitting with it being National Child Health Day- hopefully with this new screening in effect, youth around the region can live happier and healthier childhoods. Liam Griffin, NCC News.”

Syracuse, N.Y. (NCC News)- National Child Health Day was recognized across the country on Monday. Coincidentally, this past weekend the New York State Department of Health announced that it would start screening newborns for Congenital Cytomegalovirus, or cCMV, effective Monday.

cCMV is commonly transmitted to babies when a pregnant person contracts the virus and passes it on to the newborn. Common symptoms found in newborns include rashes and seizures. Additionally, long-term impacts can include impaired vision or hearing.

“They’re so innocent and they have their whole lives ahead of them,” Justine Smith, who works directly with Upstate University Hospital’s charity affairs, said. “No kid should be spending their time at a hospital, they should be on a playground or at school.”

New York State is now the second to require newborns to be screened for cCMV, along with Minnesota. Potential future parents in the area are optimistic that this requirement will have positive long-term effects.

“It’s going to be a great policy,” Upstate University Hospital Finance Chair Kevin Guo said. “It’s going to benefit a lot of families.”

“I think that’ll help a lot in terms of prevention and getting things caught beforehand,” Smith said. “Hopefully less kids have to deal with illnesses.

Related Articles