With 5 Confirmed Cases on Long Island, What You Need to Know About Enterovirus D68

Hundreds of cases have been confirmed in the United States of enterovirus D68 (EV-D68), a viral illness that manifests as a respiratory condition and has already killed one child in New Jersey.

On Long Island, there have been five recent confirmed cases of EV-D68; four in Suffolk and one in Nassau.

In Suffolk, the four people infected were children under the age of nine. All of the children were hospitalized and have since been discharged, according to Suffolk County Commissioner of Health Services James Tomarken.

In Nassau, a school-aged child from the Town of North Hempstead was confirmed to have EV-D68. That child became ill in early September and was also hospitalized and later discharged, officials said.

The virus, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says spreads the most during the fall, is mostly diagnosed in infants, children and teenagers. The virus can be spread via saliva, nasal mucus, coughs, sneezes, and sharing surfaces with an infected person, according to the CDC. While there is no vaccine or specific treatment for the virus, the respiratory issues it causes can be treated.

From mid-August to Oct. 8, 2014, the CDC reports, public health laboratories confirmed a total of 664 people in 45 states and the District of Columbia with respiratory illness caused by EV-D68. The organization also released a statement saying that “in the upcoming weeks, more states will have confirmed cases of EV-D68 infection.”

Symptoms of EV-D68 (similar to the flu):

• Blueness around the mouth
• Fever
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Body and muscle aches
• Difficulty breathing

The virus has reportedly spread beyond most of the U.S. and into British Columbia, Canada. Only five states do not have present cases of EV-D68: Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Alaska and Hawaii. The CDC said the EV-D68 is likely contributing to the increases in severe respiratory illnesses and is the predominant enterovirus for this year’s flu season.

Children seem to overwhelmingly be the main demographic contracting the virus, though hospitalization is only required in some serious instances of breathing problems. The New Jersey preschooler who died in his sleep from the virus, 4-year-old Eli Waller, was not displaying any symptoms. EV-D68 has been detected in five specimens from deceased patients, according to the CDC, and others have been in and out of hospitalization due to the virus.

Medical officials are advising everyone to practice good hygiene and are emphasizing the importance to wash hands frequently.

Tips to protect yourself:

• Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after changing diapers
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
• Avoid kissing, hugging, and sharing cups or eating utensils with people who are sick
• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs, especially if someone is sick
• Keep children who are sick home from school

“Since children with asthma, wheezing, or underlying medical conditions are at risk for more serious complications, parents should faithfully follow their child’s asthma management plan and regimen,” said Lauren Barlow, a public health nurse and specialist in epidemiology. “In addition, all persons, age 6 months and older, should receive annual flu shots.”