In December of 2025, the Manitoba government expanded newborn screening to include checks for Congenital Cytomegalovirus (CCMV).
Leanne Gardiner, Clinical Service Leader and Registered Audiologist with Prairie Mountain Health, said that most cases of the virus aren't even aware of it.
"Most healthy people will not have any signs or symptoms and will not know they even have it. But if a pregnant woman is infected, there's a risk of infection to the baby...babies with CMV infection can be born with or without symptoms, and may be at risk for developing health problems in early childhood including permanent hearing loss or developmental delay," Gardiner said.
Gardiner said the inclusion of CCMV in newborn screening tests helps give the best chance for detection and treament.
"Early detection allows for the immediate treatment and long term monitoring, which will help improve developmental outcomes for the baby...early screening can identify not only the symptomatic but also the asymptomatic cases. The majority of babies who have CMV will not have any visible symptoms," Gardiner said.
She also said that once CMV is detected in newborns, thanks to early detection and enhanced screening, isn't the end of the world.
"The prompt identification allows for an antiviral treatment, which can improve the hearing and developmental outcome for symptomatic infants, and early identification also allows for long-term monitoring," said Gardiner.
Since expanding newborn screening to include CCMV in December, health care providers across the province have already screened more than 1500 newborns for the virus.
