Epidemiology of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) from 2020 to 2025: Trends, Challenges and Future Directions, A Review
1 Department of Biology, College of Sciences, University of Kirkuk, Kirkuk, Iraq.
2 Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Tikrit University, Tikrit, Iraq.
Review
Open Access Research Journal of Life Sciences, 2026, 11(02), 010-019.
Article DOI: 10.53022/oarjls.2026.11.2.0016
Publication history:
Received on 27 February 2026; revised on 01 April 2026; accepted on 05 April 2026
Abstract:
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common cause of congenital viruses and is a major global health problem. This review discusses the epidemiology of CMV, clinical effect and the existing diagnostic and treatment dilemma. The ubiquitous nature of CMV and its complicated transmission patterns are discussed, but the emphasis is put especially on the impact of CMV on the vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, neonates, and immunocompromised patients. The review explains the difference in seroprevalence and incidence across the world, and that although developed nations tend to have lower levels, the semi-developed nations have an increased transmission to deal with as a result of environmental and social dynamics. The recent literature (202025) has highlighted the impact of the sophisticated diagnostic technologies and the COVID-19 pandemic on CMV detection and management. Nevertheless, the current methods of diagnosis and treatment options have some drawbacks, which means that the use of better molecular diagnostics and specific antiviral treatment should be considered. Future studies must aim at interdisciplinary studies and improved surveillance to be able to know more about CMV epidemiologic patterns and also to establish effective methods to reduce its health impact on the world.
Keywords:
Cytomegalovirus; COVID-19; Epidemiology; Global health
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Copyright © 2026 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0