§ Mr. ButlerTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what warning his Department makes available to pregnant nurses about the risks of cytomegalovirus in the course of their caring for AIDS patients;
597W(2) what information he has on the number of nurses infected with cytomegalovirus in the course of their caring for AIDS patients.
§ Mr. NewtonThe scientific advice which the Department has received is that cytomegalovirus does not present an occupational hazard to nurses or other female staff caring for patients with CMV infection, including patients with AIDS.
Studies of hospital nurses working with patients known to be excreting cytomegalovirus have shown no increased risk of infection in these nurses compared with women of similar ages working in other occupations.
The most effective means by which all women, including nurses, who are either pregnant or planning a pregnancy, can protect themselves from infection with cytomegalovirus is by careful attention to personal hygiene, for example, hand washing. This is basic to standard safe working practices for all nursing staff.