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Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

  • CMV Home
  • About CMV and Congenital CMV
  • CMV Prevention
  • For Families and Caregivers
  • For Health Professionals
  • For Childcare and Education Professionals

Related Programs

  • Newborn Screening
  • Children and Youth with Special Health Needs
  • Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI)

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

  • CMV Home
  • About CMV and Congenital CMV
  • CMV Prevention
  • For Families and Caregivers
  • For Health Professionals
  • For Childcare and Education Professionals

Related Programs

  • Newborn Screening
  • Children and Youth with Special Health Needs
  • Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI)
Contact Info
Children and Youth with Special Health Needs
651-201-3650
800-728-5420 (toll-free)
health.cyshn@state.mn.us

Contact Info

Children and Youth with Special Health Needs
651-201-3650
800-728-5420 (toll-free)
health.cyshn@state.mn.us

The Vivian Act Legislation

The Minnesota legislature passed a law known as the Vivian Act in 2021. The law is named for Vivian Henrikson who was identified with congenital cytomegalovirus shortly after birth. Vivian's mother, Leah Henrikson, University of Minnesota physician Dr. Mark Schleiss, and other parents of Minnesota children affected with congenital CMV introduced the idea for the bill. Parents advocated for passage of the legislation to promote education, awareness, and early detection of congenital CMV. 

The Vivian Act directs the Minnesota Commissioner of Health to:

  • Make information about cCMV, including preventative measures, available to health care providers, women who may become pregnant, expectant parents, and parents of infants
  • Establish an outreach program to educate women who may become pregnant, expectant parents, and parents of infants about CMV
  • Raise awareness for CMV among health care providers

In addition, the Vivian Act required the Advisory Committee on Heritable and Congenital Disorders to review congenital CMV for possible inclusion on Minnesota's newborn screening panel. In January 2022, the Advisory Committee recommended adding congenital CMV to the newborn screening panel following its thorough review process. Less than a month later, Commissioner Malcom approved this recommendation. On February 6, 2023, Minnesota became the first state in the nation to screen every newborn for congenital CMV. 

The Vivian Act in the News

  • Minnesota becomes first state to screen newborns for CMV
  • Testing the Tiniest Minnesotans
Tags
  • cytomegalovirus
Last Updated: 12/19/2024

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