Enterovirus 68 Now in 27 States - East Idaho News

Enterovirus 68 Now in 27 States

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gettY 091614 childhospital?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1410865439303Wavebreak Media/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — A mysterious virus, enterovirus 68, is striking children and spreading fast across the country. Twenty-seven states are confirmed or suspected of having cases of the virus.

ABC chief health and medical editor Doctor Richard Besser says the illness starts off like a cold, but parents need to be aware if their child develops breathing difficulties or a reluctance to eat.

Dr. Besser says the danger signs include wheezing and difficulty speaking or eating. 

“If you look at your child’s belly and there’s inpulling with every breath, or blueness around the lips, those are signs your child may not be getting enough air,” Dr. Besser warns.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting 104 confirmed enterovirus cases in 10 states, but public health officials may never know the true scope of the outbreak because the CDC doesn’t require hospitals and labs to report enterovirus 68.

Dr. Besser says if a child has a cold “and it’s acting like every other cold, there’s nothing to worry about.”


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