Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Stop CMV - The CMV Action Network
www.StopCMV.org
Lynn Pickus
Long Island Area Representative
lynn@stopcmv.org

Stop CMV Day at Adventureland to Raise Awareness of CMV

May 5, 2010 -- Local parents will be hosting Stop CMV Day at Adventureland Amusement Park in Farmingdale, New York to raise awareness of congenital CMV (cytomegalovirus). The event takes place Saturday June 5th between 1:00pm and 4:00pm. Admission to the event is $20, which includes all rides and attractions, as well as a $3.50 donation to Stop CMV. CMV families, children born with congenital CMV, and Stop CMV supporters will be in attendance and available for interviews with the press.

“We’re really hoping to raise awareness about the dangers of congenital CMV,” says Lynn Pickus, Stop CMV Area Representative for Long Island and host of the event. Pickus’ son, Noah, born with congenital CMV and has cerebral palsy, hearing loss, feeding disorders, developmental delays, and seizure disorder. “Noah’s energy, excitement, and pure joy for life is absolutely contagious.” Janelle Greenlee, president and founder of Stop CMV and The CMV Action Network, is also mother to twin daughters born with congenital CMV. “Events like these are the first time that many people will hear about CMV,” say Greenlee. “The more we can mobilize this message, the more we can prevent birth defects caused by CMV.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that 1 in every 150 children is born infected with congenital CMV. Each year in the United States alone, approximately 30,000 children are born with congenital CMV infection. The CDC reports incidence of congenital CMV as similar to that of Autism (1 in 150), and higher than Down Syndrome (1 in 3,357), Spina Bifida (1 in 2,500), and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (1.5 in 1,000). Congenital CMV causes deafness, blindness, cerebral palsy, mental and physical disabilities, seizures, and death. CMV is present in saliva, urine, tears, blood, mucus, and other bodily fluids and is most commonly found among healthy infants, toddlers, preschoolers and children who contract and carry the virus. CMV poses a major risk to pregnant women, especially mothers, daycare workers, preschool teachers, therapists, and nurses.

Since 2003, Stop CMV has been working to foster congenital CMV awareness via internet and public awareness campaigns. The mission of Stop CMV and The CMV Action Network is to prevent and eliminate congenital CMV and to improve the lives of all people affected by congenital CMV. Stop CMV and The CMV Action Network have over 100 Area Representatives and Parent Coaches in the United States. To contact an Area Representative near you, please visit www.stopcmv.org/contacts.php. If you do not see your area listed, please contact reps@stopcmv.org for assistance. For more information about Stop CMV and The CMV Action Network, please contact press@stopcmv.org.

############################################################
Stop CMV and The CMV Action Network . www.StopCMV.org . Federal Tax ID#: 27-0284525

Press Release 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dr. Lynn Pickus
lkelli@aol.com
Plainview, NY
516-932-1952

Fundraiser Increases Awareness of #1 Birth Defects Virus—
More Common Than Down Syndrome

Pregnant Women Unaware Toddler Saliva May Harm Fetus

Plainview, N.Y.—Parents and friends of disabled children will gather at Adventureland Amusement Park in Farmingdale to raise funds to prevent #1 viral cause of birth defects, congenital CMV (cytomegalovirus), on Saturday, June 5 at 1 p.m. Tickets: $16.50. Anything above the $16.50 is considered a tax deductible donation.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): www.cdc.gov/cmv/
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
· Congenital CMV (meaning present at birth) is as common a cause of serious disability as Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, and neural tube defects

More than half of OB/GYNs surveyed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) admitted they don't routinely caution their patients about CMV.

The awareness event is being hosted by STOP CMV and Dr. Lynn Pickus of Plainview, a psychologist and a representative of STOP CMV, an action network. Pickus is the mother of Noah, born in 2004. Noah has a moderate to severe hearing loss, cerebral palsy, a seizure disorder and developmental delays as a result of congenital CMV. As a STOP CMV rep, Pickus is actively involved in raising awareness. “There is no reason why anyone should not be aware of this virus and how to prevent it.” Prevention includes refraining from kissing toddlers around the mouth and consistent hand-washing when caring for them. See http://www.stopcmv.com/ .

Lisa Saunders, author of the memoir, “Anything But a Dog! The perfect pet for a girl with congenital CMV,” will be at the event autographing copies of her book and donating a percent to the Brendan B. McGinnis Congenital CMV Foundation. http://anythingbutadog.blogspot.com/
The Brendan B. McGinnis Congenital CMV Foundation is a non-profit foundation (501 c 3) dedicated to raising public awareness about congenital CMV, raising donations to support CMV vaccine research, and affecting change in the medical community so that physicians will test women for CMV prior to pregnancy. For further information about the Foundation, contact Tracy McGinnis, President/Founder, at mcginnis@cmvfoundation.org or visit: http://www.cmvfoundation.org/

For more information about the CMV Awareness event, how to donate above the ticket price to the Brendan B. McGinnis Congenital CMV Foundation, and what will happen in the event of rain, contact Dr. Lynn Pickus at lkelli@aol.com, 516-932-1952 or visit: http://cmvadventureland.blogspot.com/ Please buy or reserve tickets in advance. Participants should meet on the patio outside the Adventureland restaurant to pick up wristbands. A table within the park will provide more information on the Brendan B. McGinnis Congenital CMV Foundation and CMV. For information about the Adventureland: www.adventureland.us/themepark/
###