Cytomegalovirus is also abbreviated to CMV and belongs to the group of herpes viruses. After an initial infection, CMV can remain latent in the body, allowing it to become active again. This infection does not cause any symptoms in most cases. In pregnant women who have an infection of CMV for the first time, it can harm the unborn child, in which case there is a small chance of congenital abnormalities. Some of the symptoms that may occur are flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, fatigue and swollen glands.

After the initial infection, CMV spreads throughout the body. In both symptomatic and asymptomatic infection, the virus can be detected in white blood cells, salivary glands and kidneys. In a symptomatic infection, the liver, lungs and central nervous system are often also infected