Public Health Officials Watching for Possible Outbreaks of EV-D68 Virus

The Illinois Department of Public Health is closely watching for outbreaks of a possible circulating virus that can cause severe respiratory illness in community members, especially children.

Several hospitals in Illinois and Missouri have recently reported clusters of the virus identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as enterovirus,EV-D68. While there are more than 100 types of enteroviruses, which are very common viruses of respiratory illness, EV-D68 is less common.

“The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is closely monitoring the increase in respiratory illness found in some hospitals,” IDPH Director Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck said in a news advisory. “While we are seeing some severe illnesses and take these very seriously, it’s important to know that the steps you can take to avoid becoming ill, and the treatment for this, are similar to those of most illnesses.”

Enteroviruses bring on symptoms like a very intense cold, aren’t unusual. They’re actually very common. A bad summer cold is often a enterovirus, say experts at Centers for Disease Control.

Symptoms of enterovirus illness can include fever, runny nose, sneezing, coughing and body aches. Because EV-D68 has not been reported commonly, the full spectrum of illness due to this type of enterovirus is not well known.

“If you, or your child, are experiencing cold like symptoms and are having difficulty breathing, contact your healthcare provider right away,” said Dr. Hasbrouck.

There is no specific treatment for EV-D68 infections and no specific anti-viral medications currently available for this purpose, which is why it is important to take steps to protect yourself.

The virus is raising some alarm because of the high number of hospitalizations, especially in the Midwest. Over 475 children have been treated for the virus at a Kansas City, MO, hospital where about 15 percent of the children were placed in intensive care, CNN reported.

One doctor there called the scope of critically ill children sent to ICU “unprecedented.”

A CDC analysis showed at least 30 of the Kansas City children tested positive for EV-D68, according to Missouri health officials.

Enteroviruses are transmitted through close contact with an infected person, or by touching objects or surfaces that are contaminated with the virus and then touching the mouth, nose, or eyes. To help protect yourself and others from enterovirus infections:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water

• Avoid close contact (touching and shaking hands) with people who are sick

• Clean and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces

• Stay home when sick

Health officials say that EV-D68 virus is not deadly, and none of the Missouri children have died as a result of it.