Yorkshire manager of charity offers guidance on virus after Leeds baby left unable to walk and talk after mum caught 'common cold' while pregnant

A Yorkshire charity has offered some guidance after a Leeds baby has been left disabled and unable to walk and talk after her mum caught a common cold virus while she was pregnant.
Courtney Farnell and Minnie-Mae (photo: SWNS)Courtney Farnell and Minnie-Mae (photo: SWNS)
Courtney Farnell and Minnie-Mae (photo: SWNS)

Carer Courtney Farnell, aged 21, suffered from a virus which causes cold like symptoms in children and adults while she was pregnant with her daughter.

Courtney caught common cytomegalovirus (CMV) when she was eight weeks pregnant from her caring duties with vulnerable people.

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The virus, which is transferred in saliva, tears and urine, is usually harmless, but can be fatal to unborn babies.

It damaged Courtney's unborn baby and she said she was urged to abort baby Minnie-Mae by medics who said she was likely to be stillborn.

Courtney barely left her bed for four months, but she decided to keep the baby and Minnie-Mae is now 14 months old.

Minnie-Mae suffers from anaemia, stiffness, muscle weakness, epilepsy and severe brain damage, and Courtney said she doesn't regret her decision to keep her.

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She said: "I get messages every day from people who caught it during their pregnancy and were diagnosed, but that was nothing like when I was pregnant as I felt quite alone.

"I feel lucky as Minnie is a lot more well-off than most CMV babies, as whilst she can't crawl, walk or talk, she can sit up even with her severe brain damage.

"A lot of CMV babies I hear about through the group are blind, deaf, quadriplegic or on end-of-life care."

CMV Action is a UK charity that works to raise public awareness of the virus and campaign for better prevention and management measures within the NHS.

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It is comprised of parents and volunteers, most of whom have children of their own who have been affected by the virus.

Sharon Wood, from North Yorkshire, manages the charity. She said: "Whilst GPs and midwives will advise pregnant women to avoid unpasteurised food or cat litter, few will talk about preventative measures to reduce the risk of catching CMV.

"The costs associated with the management of congenital CMV provide strong evidence that more needs to be done in terms of prevention, diagnosis and intervention in order to reduce the number of babies affected and to provide better long-term outcomes.

“CMV Action suggests a simple slogan “Don’t share, wash with care” to sum up the simple actions that a pregnant mother can take to protect her baby.

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"Regular hand hygiene, so much in the news right now, could help a pregnant woman avoid CMV infection and possible damage to her baby, as well as Coronavirus.”

CMV is a common virus which most people in the UK will catch, but most healthy adults will often not realise they have it.

Congenital CMV can be a cause of miscarriage and stillbirth, profound deafness, cerebral palsy, blindness and learning difficulties, and is the most common virus passed from a mother to her baby as well as the leading preventable cause of childhood hearing loss.

Currently 1,000 babies are born with congenital CMV in the UK every year, and some recent research carried out by the charity, in partnership with York University, revealed that Congenital CMV costs the NHS, social services, educational services and the wider economy approximately £750 million a year.

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The research has shown that the main way pregnant women catch CMV is from small children’s saliva and urine, making second-time Mums and women who work in child care settings particularly at risk.

CMV Action has offered guidance on how pregnant women can reduce their risks of catching CMV by following simple hygiene measures such as:

- Washing hands regularly with soap and water, especially after changing nappies or coming into contact with bodily fluids.

- Avoiding kissing babies, toddlers and small children directly on the mouth. Kiss them on the head or give them a big hug instead.

- Avoiding sharing cutlery, drinks or food with children. Do not put dummies in your mouth.

- Washing any items that have been contaminated by bodily fluids with soap and water.

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