Overview

What Is Cytomegalovirus?

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus in the herpes family that infects more than half of all adults in the United States. Most of those infected with it will have no symptoms, but it can cause serious illnesses in people with compromised immune systems, especially after organ transplant.

You can get CMV from a donor (primary infection) or it may be a virus you already have in your body that suddenly begins causing infection symptoms (reactivates). Once you have CMV, the virus will stay in your body for the rest of your life.