EV-D68 is a virus that causes respiratory illness and has been reported to be increasing in incidence for the past several days...below is a message from the health department. Although the name may sound scary, these viruses are common and usually cause no more than a mild upper respiratory infection. Children with asthma may be at greater risk. Hand-washing and routine precautions are recommended in schools. If your child has asthma and is coughing more frequently or requiring the rescue inhaler more often, see your pediatrician or asthma specialist for medication adjustment during the illness to prevent worsening asthma symptoms. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today confirmed New Jerseys first case of enterovirus (EV-D68), a respiratory illness more likely found in infants and children, sometimes resulting in hospitalization. The confirmed case was identified from a specimen sent to the CDC from a Philadelphia hospital. The child has since been discharged. Enteroviruses (EV) are common viruses with more than 100 different types. EVs can cause respiratory, rash and neurologic illnesses with infants, children and teenagers more likely becoming infected. The majority of cases in the United States occur in the summer and fall. In August, severely ill pediatric cases of EV were reported in Missouri and Illinois and identified to be the D68 type of EV. Some hospitals and the majority of commercial laboratories can perform enterovirus testing but do not have the capacity to identify the D68 serotype. Over the past week, the New Jersey Department of Health has been NJDOH will be creating a webpage to share information about EV-D68 and a frequently asked questions document has already been developed and posted (nj.gov/health/cd/documents/faq/ev_faq.pdf). Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is also maintaining a website with the most up-to-date information (cdc.gov/non-polio-enterovirus/about/EV-D68.html?s_cid=cdc_homepage_whatsnew_001
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 15:21:43 +0000
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