Thursday, November 29, 2012

News Clip on Preventing CMV in Child Care Centers

Please see the following newsclip and e-mail I just sent to Karen Martinez, Anchor/Reporter:
Dear Karen,
Thank you so much for your coverage and prevention message of congenital CMV (cytomegalovirus) and the risks associated with caring for young children without taking the proper precautions:
Preventing CMV
FOX 29
Nicholas has congenital CMV. Most of his days are spent in a doctor's office. He has difficulty hearing, he has cerebral palsy and deals with seizures
...
My daughter Elizabeth was born severely disabled because of it in 1989 (I didn't know I was putting my pregnancy at risk by operating a licensed daycare center in my home). She passed away in 2006 during a seizure. It drives me crazy that my OB/GYNs didn't warn me about CMV and how to prevent it.
I am the parent rep of the Congenital CMV Foundation and author of: Anything But A Dog!: The Perfect Pet For A Girl With Congenital Cmv (Cytomegalovirus)
After speaking at the 2012 international CMV Conference in San Francisco last month and talking to scientists, I have decided to focus my energies on getting daycare centers to post warning signs. I will show your clip to the Connecticut Department of Health, who I plan to meet with soon (I currently live in Mystic, CT).
Is there anything I can do to help you get all Fox stations across the country to run your story? If you have any suggestions on how we can make it a national practice to post a warning sign in day care centers, I would love to hear them.
Below my signature is more info on my book, which has recently been made into an e-book by the publisher for only $2.99 (the first chapter is available for free viewing when you click on "LOOK INSIDE."
Thank you.

Lisa Saunders
Cell: 845-222-8593
14 Allyn St.
Mystic, CT 06355
Product Details
 
 
Info about Karen Martinez - Anchor/Reporter



Karen Martinez is an anchor for FOX News at Nine. She's a native San Antonian who grew up on our city's south side. She earned her bachelor's degree in communications from UTSA, and is a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority. Karen came to FOX San Antonio in May of 1999. "I love news and I love San Antonio. I feel blessed to have my dream job here in my hometown."  And giving back to her community is a top priority. Karen has been recognized by the Marrow Donor Program at the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center for her commitment to raising awareness about the need for blood and bone marrow donors--particularly the need for minority donors. She has also been recognized by the Silver Stars and Spurs Sports and Entertainment as an inspiring woman for professional and personal accomplishments in the community. Karen is also a member of the Breast Health Awareness Committee, a branch of the American Cancer Society. The Committee helps educate the community on the facts and myths surrounding breast cancer. She also mentors students who are aspiring journalists.
When she's not working, Karen spends time with her husband Joseph and three kids - Joshua, Miranda and Mitchellabout



 

Monday, November 12, 2012

Cytomegalovirus as an occupational risk in daycare educators

I'm the parent representative for the Congenital Cytomegalovirus Foundation, whose mission is to prevent birth defects resulting from congenital CMV infection. My bio, along with some of the country's leading congenital CMV experts, can be found here: http://www.congenitalcmv.org/foundation.htm
This link from the CDC best explains the overall problem: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/dsCytomegalovirus/
In summary, according to the CDC:

Few women have heard of congenital CMV (cytomegalovirus) and more than half of OB/GYNs surveyed admitted they don't warn their patients about it.


According to the CDC:

·Every hour, congenital CMV causes one child to become disabled

·Each year, about 30,000 children are born with congenital CMV infection

·About 1 in 750 children is born with or develops permanent disabilities due to CMV

·About 8,000 children each year suffer permanent disabilities caused by CMV


The CDC makes the following recommendations on simple steps you can take to avoid exposure to saliva and urine that might contain CMV:


Wash your hands often with soap and water for 15-20 seconds, especially after

·changing diapers

·feeding a young child

·wiping a young child’s nose or drool

·handling children’s toys


In Addition:

·Do not share food, drinks, or eating utensils used by young children

·Do not put a child’s pacifier in your mouth

·Do not share a toothbrush with a young child

·Avoid contact with saliva when kissing a child

·Clean toys, countertops, and other surfaces that come into contact with children’s urine or saliva

I am particularly concerned about the lack of information on CMV prevention at daycare centers because toddlers are the majority of the carriers. Most people cannot tell these toddles are infected because CMV is often a "silent virus" with no symptoms. I met Dr. Adler at the 2012 International CMV conference in San Francisco where I learned he is one of the co-authors of the paper, "Cytomegalovirus as an occupational risk in daycare educators," found at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2528629/
I ran a liscenced daycare in my home when I was pregnant with my daughter Elizabeth having no idea the precautions I should have taken (not kissing my own toddler around the mouth or sharing cookies with her because since she, too, was in my daycare center, she would likely become infected). I recently visted a young mother and her baby born with congenital CMV. She too worked in a daycare center having no idea of the precautions to take.
At the CMV conference I learned the CDC is currently updating their flyer. In the meantime, I shall use this older one from the CDC: http://congenitalcmv.org/CDCbrochure.pdf
If you have any advice on how parents and workers associated with daycare centers can learn the precautions to take, please contact me directly at saundersbooks@aol.com As of now, I have contacted the Groton, Connecticut, health department to see what I can do.
 
Resources:

Congenital Cytomegalovirus Foundation--mission is to prevent birth defects resulting from congenital CMV infection. http://www.congenitalcmv.org


The National Congenital CMV Registry: The National Congenital CMV Disease Registry and Research Program in Houston, Texas, includes members from many disciplines and specialties who conduct clinical and laboratory research studies on congenital CMV disease, including ways to better define and promote awareness of the public health problem, the long term effects, and the treatment and prevention of congenital CMV disease. Visit them at: www.bcm.edu/pedi/infect/cmv


Stop CMV -The CMV Action Network:

The mission of Stop CMV - The CMV Action Network is to prevent and eliminate congenital CMV and to improve the lives of all people affected by congenital CMV. Since 2003, Stop CMV has been fostering congenital CMV awareness via internet and public awareness campaigns. The CMV Action Network is comprised of families, friends and medical professionals personally affected by CMV and committed to public education efforts to prevent future cases of the virus. Since its non-profit incorporation in 2009, Stop CMV has grown to become the world's largest CMV organization. Visit them at: www.StopCMV.org


Congenital CMV Blog: http://congenitalcmv.blogspot.com

The author of this book, Lisa Saunders, maintains a congenital CMV blog and links to parent and media resources. Lisa’s daughter Elizabeth was born severely affected by congenital CMV and died at the age of 16. Lisa is the author of the memoir, Anything But a Dog! The perfect pet for a girl with congenital CMV, and is available for speaking engagements. Contact her for her availability at saundersbooks@aol.com



Friday, November 9, 2012

Saturday free book raises CMV Awareness

My lighthearted  book about Mystic and Amelia Earhart  (and CMV) will be available for free on amazon tomorrow, Saturday, for 24 hours. 
Almost the entire first three chapters are free in the e-book version anyway, but tomorrow, SATURDAY, the entire book will be totally free. It would be great if you could forward this to any friends who might be interested. 

Lisa Saunders
Sent from my iPhone