CMV Action Launches CMV Warrior Campaign to Raise Awareness and Support for Families Affected by CMV
London, UK – In conjunction with CMV Awareness Month this June, CMV Action is proud to announce the launch of the CMV Warrior Campaign. This initiative aims to raise awareness, offer support, and drive fundraising efforts to combat Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV), with the goal of improving outcomes for affected individuals and families.
Through this campaign, CMV Action hopes to achieve several key objectives, including raising awareness about the impact of CMV and the importance of prevention, diagnosis, and support for affected families. The organization also aims to provide resources, guidance, and a supportive community for individuals and families navigating the daily challenges of CMV. Additionally, CMV Action is inviting supporters to become fundraising warriors, taking on challenges or hosting events to raise funds for the organization’s work. Finally, the campaign aims to empower supporters to become CMV Warriors by taking action to raise awareness, share stories, and support and advocate for CMV Action.
Sarah Dewar, Chair of CMV Action, spoke about the inspiration behind the campaign, saying, “As Chair of CMV Action, I’m inspired daily by the resilience and determination of families affected by CMV. The CMV Warrior Campaign embodies their spirit. I hope that this CMV Awareness month, our supporters unite with us to help raise funds and make a meaningful difference for the future so no one has to combat CMV alone.”
CMV, or Cytomegalovirus, is a common virus that belongs to the herpes family of viruses. While it can infect people of all age groups, it rarely shows any symptoms in healthy individuals. However, for babies who were infected with the virus before birth, a condition known as congenital CMV (cCMV), it can have serious consequences. These include hearing loss, vision loss, intellectual disability, seizures, and can even lead to early pregnancy loss or stillbirth.
The importance of CMV awareness cannot be overstated, especially for women of childbearing age. Many people have never even heard of CMV, and the more we talk about it, the more parents-to-be can take preventive measures to protect themselves and their unborn child from the virus. Awareness is the first step towards prevention.
Fortunately, there are ways to prevent the transmission of CMV. Simple steps like regularly washing hands, especially after changing nappies or wiping a young child’s nose or drool, can make a big difference. Additionally, avoiding sharing food, drinks, or utensils with young children can help reduce the risk of transmission. For pregnant women or those planning to become pregnant, it is crucial that they are aware of CMV and take steps to safeguard their pregnancy. National Institute for Care and Health Excellence (NICE) guidelines for Antenatal Care now recommend that women be informed about CMV. If CMV is diagnosed, there are treatments available that can help manage the symptoms and reduce the risk of transmission to the unborn child.
CMV Action has families available for interview and to provide case studies upon request. The organization has stories highlighting real-life experiences and the impact that CMV has on individuals and families. For more information, please contact CMV Action.
For more information on the CMV Warrior Campaign and CMV Awareness Month, please visit cmvaction.org.uk/cmv-awareness-month-cmv-warrior/.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.