Be aware of...

Cytomegalievirus (CMV)

C.M.V. is caused by a herpes virus. The symptoms are fever and enlarged lymph nodes. Infection occurs through the mouth by direct or indirect contact with contaminated body fluids such as saliva, urine, semen, cervical mucus, breast milk and blood. This virus is common in the saliva and urine of young children.

Everyone can come into contact with the virus and get ill. Especially children in day care centers and their parents.

Women that get infected for the first time during pregnancy (chance is less than 1%), can infect the unborn baby. This can cause birth defects.

The infection can easily be prevented by the following regimen:

  • avoid contact with saliva of young children (do not lick the spoon of your child, do not “clean” the pacifier in your mouth and don’t kiss your child on the mouth).
  • wash hands after changing a diaper.
  • wash or clean toys that have been in contact with saliva.

For more detailed information click here.

 

Toxoplasmosis

This is caused by a parasite. The infection passes through the mouth. Adults do not really get ill, but an unborn baby is sensitive to it.

Once you have had toxoplasmosis, your blood makes antibodies to protect you against re-infection. Many people already have that protection without knowing they have had the infection. But not everyone!

The toxoplasmosis parasite can occur in cat feces, garden soil and raw meat.
Toxoplasma does not survive heat (cooking or pasteurizing) or the freezer.

The infection can easily be prevented by the following regimen:

  • do not clean the cat litter box yourself.
  • wear gloves when working in the garden.
  • wash vegetables well.
  • do not eat raw meat.

Note that some meat products contain raw meat like salami, “filet Americain” and “osseworst”, to know exactly which products are unsafe during pregnancy, check the app “ZwangerHap” of the Dutch Nutrition Center.

More detailed information is to be found here.

Listeriosis

This is caused by a bacteria. The infection passes through the mouth. Adults do not really get ill, but an unborn baby is sensitive to it.

The listeria bacteria is found in raw foods, such as unpasteurized milk fresh from the cow, soft cheeses made of unpasteurized milk (some Brie and Camembert, the packaging says ‘au lait cru’), raw meat, raw fish,  raw crustaceans or shellfish, raw vegetables and prepackaged smoked fish.

Listeria survives in the freezer, is resistant to salt and propagates in the refrigerator. It is not resistant to heating like cooking or pasteurization.

The infection can easily be prevented by the following regimen:

  • do not eat soft raw milk cheeses (Brie and Camembert made of pasteurized milk is safe).
  • do not eat raw fish or pre-packaged smoked fish (sushi, Dutch herring “nieuwe haring”, smoked salmon or eel).
  • fry, cook or steam meat and fish well before eating.
  • wash raw vegetables before eating them (including pre-cut ready-to-eat vegetables).
  • preferably eat food that is fresh or freshly prepared and keep food in the refrigerator for as short as possible.
  • keep opened products well covered in the refrigerator, but not too long.

The ZwangerHap app is a useful aid during your pregnancy.

For more detailed information click here.