South Jersey Hospitals Taking Steps to Battle Enterovirus D68

Cooper University Hospital has new restrictions preventing anyone under 16 years old in certain areas of the hospital, and Kennedy Health System is considering similar restrictions in response to a suspected uptick in enterovirus D68 cases, the Courier Post reports.

Cooper won’t allow those under 16 in the pediatric intensive care unit, the pediatric floor or neonatal intensive care. The hospital is reporting twice as many pediatric patients as usual for this time of year, according to the report.

Hospitals in southern New Jersey aren’t testing for entervirus because treatment will be the same regardless, but doctors are certain it is the cause for the increase in pediatric patient admissions, according to the report.

Hospital stays have generally been short.

Enterovirus is a respiratory disease in children, and symptoms are similar to that of the common cold. Some children need to be hospitalized if they have trouble breathing.

Since the middle of August, the virus has been identified in about 20 states across the country, including Maryland on Thursday.

For more on symptoms and what to do, click here.

For more on the local fight against the virus, visit courierpostonline.com.