Mother urges CMV prevention advice after daughter's deafness
A mother whose daughter was left almost totally deaf by CMV is calling for greater awareness, as a researcher sets out how pregnant women can reduce the risk.
How it was covered
- Channel 5 was the only channel found covering it, concentrating on one mother's story and practical CMV prevention advice.
- BBC News, BBC One, BBC Two, Channel 4, GB News, ITV and Sky News: not found in tracked broadcasts.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story. Facts only one channel reported are attributed to it.
Channel 5 reported that cytomegalovirus, known as CMV, is one of the major causes of deafness in children. In a report by the channel's health correspondent Catherine Jones, it said 1,000 babies in the UK each year suffer permanent hearing loss or other disabilities after their mothers pass the virus to them in the womb.
Bryony, a mother interviewed by Channel 5, said her daughter Colette is almost totally deaf because of damage caused by a virus she caught while pregnant. Colette is two next week. Bryony said none of her midwife or anybody else around her had mentioned CMV before.
Channel 5 reported that CMV is commonly passed around nursery-age children and causes them few symptoms. Babies infected before birth can suffer permanent hearing loss or other disabilities, and the channel said one in 200 babies are born with the infection, a common virus that most people have not heard of. It said there is no cure, but antiviral drugs given in the first month after birth can minimise the damage.
Channel 5 reported that a test can detect whether a baby caught CMV in the womb, but it is not judged reliable enough for the NHS to roll out a universal screening programme. Dr Sailesh Kadambari, who researches CMV, told the channel that a vaccine is hoped for one day, but preventing pregnant women from becoming infected is the best strategy for now.
Dr Kadambari told Channel 5 that CMV is most often picked up through toddlers by sharing saliva and urine. Dr Kadambari advised pregnant women to avoid sharing cutlery with toddlers, avoid kissing them on the lips and wash their hands carefully after nappy changes. Channel 5 reported that the charity CMV Action issues useful advice.
Bryony said she would have followed that advice and believes the NHS should do more. She said parents naturally kiss their children, share food and change nappies, and these are not usually seen as risks during pregnancy. She wants the message to reach other families, Channel 5 reported.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  |
|---|---|
| Only on one channel | |
| CMV infection in the womb causes about 1,000 UK babies each year to suffer permanent hearing loss or other disabilities. | |
| Pregnant women are advised to avoid sharing cutlery with toddlers, avoid kissing toddlers on the lips, and wash their hands carefully after nappy changes. | |
| There is no cure for CMV, but antiviral drugs given in the first month after birth can minimise the damage. | |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Channel 5 led with Bryony and Colette's personal story to make the risk of CMV concrete, then widened the report to the lack of universal screening and the practical steps pregnant women can take. The tone was sympathetic and awareness-raising rather than confrontational. It also gave Dr Sailesh Kadambari and the charity CMV Action space to explain prevention and treatment limits.
- “None of my midwife or anybody had mentioned it to me.”
- “Those things you wouldn't typically think could be a danger to you as you're pregnant, but they are.”
- “A potentially avoidable situation, Bryony now wants to prevent other families from facing.”
Who was on air
People and organisations each channel put on air while covering this story. Channels' own presenters and reporters are not listed. Names as transcribed, and the list can miss people.
- 17:27 GMT
Dr Sailesh Kadambari, researches CMV
5 News with Dan Walker · Mon 2 Nov
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.