Please Consider Responding to the UK National Screening Committee Review on CMV Screening
The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) are currently reviewing their 2017 decision NOT to screen for CMV. They are currently accepting public comments on this review and further information can be found at:
Cytomegalovirus - UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) - GOV.UK (view-health-screening-recommendations.service.gov.uk)
CMV Action are currently working on a response with our CMV medical colleagues:
Screening in Pregnancy
We will be submitting evidence that there is now a first trimester intervention (the trimester when the most serious damage can be done to the baby) following a randomised control trial which demonstrated a 71% reduction in the risk of foetal transmission when a high dose of Valaciclovir was given to women who seroconvert in pregnancy. We believe that this should be available to all seronegative pregnant women.
Screening for Neonates
Our response will include evidence from the recent Valgan Toddler Study when a randomised control trial showed no efficacy of late treatment where there is hearing loss caused by CMV, so the only opportunity to preserve hearing is by treatment in the new-born period (within the first four weeks of a baby’s life). Screening would identify the babies that are not picked up in this short window of opportunity.
FURTHER RESPONSES TO THIS REVIEW BY OUR MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS WILL ADD PRESSURE AND A VOICE TO OUR CASE. PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IS ALWAYS SO POWERFUL, SO PLEASE DO CONSIDER SUBMITTING YOUR COMMENTS AND EXPERIENCES. PLEASE NOTE THE CLOSING DATE IS MONDAY, 17TH JANUARY, 2022.
