CMV is transmitted by direct contact with infectious body fluids, such as urine, saliva, blood, tears, semen, and breast milk. CMV can be transmitted sexually and through transplanted organs and blood transfusions.
CMV can only be passed on when it’s active. The virus is active when:
- you get CMV for the first time – young children often get CMV for the first time at nursery
- the virus has reactivated because you have a weakened immune system
- you’ve been reinfected with a different type (strain) of CMV
Congenital CMV is caused by passing on an active CMV infection to your unborn baby during pregnancy.