Cases of Parvovirus B19 — aka, the 'Slapped Cheek' Illness — Rising, Putting Pregnant Women at Risk

Mar. 15, 2025

Stock image of a child with the telltale parvovirus “slapped cheek” appearance.Photo:Getty

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TheU.S. Centers for Disease Controlhas issued a health advisory about an alarming rise in cases of parvovirus B19. The childhood illness — also known as Fifth Disease, or “slapped cheek” illness due to it causing telltale reddened cheeks — can be particularly dangerous to pregnant women, the agency says.

The CDC looked at people with IgM antibodies, which indicates a recent infection, and shared that children aged 5-9 saw the greatest increase, going from “15% during 2022–2024 to 40% in June 2024.”

Among all ages, the presence of the antibodies increased from 3% during 2022–2024 to 10% in June 2024.

Stock image of a pregnant woman.Getty

Parvovirus B19 is “highly transmissible inrespiratory droplets,” the CDC says. About a week after exposure, symptoms including fever and malaise may develop.

While most people only require supportive care, pregnant women are at risk of “adverse fetal outcome,” which the agency says includes fetal anemia, non-immune hydrops (which canstress the heart), or fetal loss.

The risk is highest if a pregnant woman gets parvovirus between weeks 9–20.

She was hospitalized and receivedblood transfusions, telling the outlet, “I do think it was lifesaving for the fetus."

Stock image of a child with reddened cheeks.Getty

Parks isn’t alone, as the CDC notes they’ve received reports from clinicians who have observed “more than the expected number” of pregnant people with parvovirus B19.

Those reports, the agency says, include “cases resulting in severe fetal anemia requiring fetal transfusions orpregnancy loss.”

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The agency cautions that you should seek medical care if you are pregnant and have been exposed to parvovirus B19 — but adds that once the distinctive facial rash appears, the patient is no longer contagious.

Parks, now at 30 weeks, says she and her fetus are closely monitored — calling the illness “truly the most difficult experience to go through.”

“He wasn’t guaranteed to come through the fetal anemia.”

source: people.com