More than 1,500 newborns in Manitoba have been screened for a congenital virus that can cause birth defects since last December, according to the provincial government.

Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara announced Tuesday that congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) — a viral infection that can lead to hearing loss, cognitive impairment and disabilities — has been added to Manitoba’s universal newborn screening program.

The province’s existing screening program checks newborn babies for more than 40 rare disorders using a small blood sample taken within the first days of the child’s life, the province said in a news release.

The NDP government previously promised to add cCMV testing to its universal infant screening in its 2024-25 budget.

Rob Tétrault, whose teenage son was born with cCMV, has long advocated for Manitoba to introduce universal screening for the viral infection.

“I can’t believe that it almost took 18 years to get here, but I’m very proud and thankful to the Manitoba government for putting this in finally,” said Tétrault, who serves as the chair and trustee of the Canadian CMV Foundation.

About one in 200 Canadian infants contract the viral infection during pregnancy, according to the foundation. About 20 per cent of cCMV cases result in lifelong disability, the group says.

The province said the infection is one of the most common non-genetic causes of permanent hearing loss in children.

The province said the infection is one of the most common non-genetic causes of permanent hearing loss in children.

However, infants with cCMV often don’t show symptoms at birth, leading to cases getting missed and potentially causing complications later in life.

Tétrault said his son Alexandre’s cCMV was caught early by random chance, due to an ultrasound test flagging abnormalities, allowing them to quickly treat the infection and prevent further complications. 

Tétrault said that information should be available to all Manitoba parents with newborns.

“Wouldn’t you want to know if there was a one-in-200 chance that your child was sick? Wouldn’t you want to know?” he said.

“I think all of us, as parents, we’d rather know.”

Early screening helps identify babies that need additional testing, monitoring and treatment, the province said. 

Asagwara said the province doesn’t have data available about whether cCMV was detected among any of the 1,500 newly screened infants.

A spokesperson for the minister said it cannot give accurate figures for how many Manitobans are diagnosed with cCMV each year, as routine screening only began in December 2025.