Gov. Mills signs Sen. Breen bill to protect children against CMV
AUGUSTA — Yesterday, Gov. Janet Mills signed a bill sponsored by Sen. Cathy Breen, D-Falmouth, to provide testing for Cytomegalovirus (CMV) in newborns and educate parents on the dangers of CMV.
“This bill will help to detect and treat CMV before it impacts children’s lives and will alert parents on what to look for so they can take action,” said Sen. Breen. “I am grateful to Gov. Mills for signing this bill. As I have said before, however, the real heroes are the advocates whose lives have been affected by CMV. They pushed for this bill’s passage from the very beginning, showing up to testify and sharing their experiences as mothers and fathers raising children with special needs due to exposure to CMV. This small but mighty community of Mainers deserves all the credit.”
As amended by the HHS Committee and passed by the Legislature, LD 1747 will require the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop a CMV screening program though the rulemaking process that includes a gradual expansion from targeted newborn testing to universal testing. It also directs CDC to work with stakeholders to develop an educational program on the risks of CMV, in order to let expecting parents know what to look for and to increase basic and attainable prevention efforts statewide.
According to the U. S. CDC, CMV is a common virus that infects people of all ages. Over half of adults have been infected with CMV by age 40. Most people infected with CMV show no signs or symptoms. One out of every 200 babies is born with CMV, and about one in five of those will have long-term health problems. These problems can include severe hearing loss or deafness, developmental delay, vision loss and seizures. Sixteen other states have passed laws addressing CMV.
Jane Sweet of Cumberland, daughter of advocate Laura Sweet and constituent of Sen. Breen, also served as a Senate page on the last session day of the 130th Legislature.
LD 1747 was officially signed into law on May 2. The bill signing on Monday was ceremonial.
