The Manitoba government has expanded universal newborn screening to include congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV), making Manitoba one of the first Canadian jurisdictions to test all newborns for a leading infectious cause of infant disability.
“When a baby is born, families should know the health-care system is doing everything possible to give the child the strongest start,” said Premier Wab Kinew. “Universal cCMV screening means fewer families waiting for answers and more children getting the support they need earlier. This is what investing in prevention looks like, real improvements that help Manitoba families from day one.”
Since expanding the screening program in December 2025, health-care providers have screened more than 1,500 newborns for cCMV. Early testing helps health-care providers identify infections sooner, allowing monitoring or treatment to begin when appropriate and reducing the risk of long-term complications such as hearing loss and developmental delays.
“For years, families and advocates have been pushing for this change because early screening can change the trajectory of a child’s life,” said Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara. “cCMV screening is about enclosing a gap in care and ensuring Manitoba families had access to the same preventative tools available elsewhere. Today, that work means babies are being tested at birth and families are getting answers sooner.”
Congenital CMV affects approximately one in 200 births and remains one of the most common non-genetic causes of permanent hearing loss in children. Because many infants show no symptoms at birth, universal screening helps ensure infections are identified early rather than missed until complications appear later.
“This milestone reflects years of advocacy by families and health professionals who understood how important early detection can be,” said Rob Tétrault, president and co-founder, Canadian CMV Foundation. “When parents and care teams have answers sooner, they can make informed decisions and access support earlier and that can change a child’s future.”
Manitoba joins Saskatchewan, Ontario and U.S. jurisdictions in implementing universal cCMV screening. The test is incorporated into Manitoba’s existing newborn screening program, which screens for more than 40 rare disorders using a small heel-prick blood sample collected within the first days of life. The sample is analyzed at Cadham Provincial Laboratory.
Early screening identifies infants who may require additional testing, monitoring or treatment. Antiviral medications may be considered in some cases when cCMV is detected early, improving clinical management and long-term outcomes.
For more information about newborn screening and congenital CMV, visit sharedhealthmb.ca.
