Viruses know no borders so this was inevitable. A heads up for everyone, especially parents….especially parents of kids with asthma. DPH CONFIRMS CASE OF ENTEROVIRUS State health officials on Tuesday confirmed the first case in Massachusetts of a rare strain of enterovirus that has caused severe respiratory infection in some children around the country. Public Health Commissioner Cheryl Bartlett and State Epidemiologist Dr. Al DeMaria said the virus, for most children, will result in mild symptoms similar to the common cold, but is more prone to triggering asthma attacks in children who suffer from asthma or other respiratory illnesses. Family members with just a common cold may be harboring this virus, DeMaria said. Known as Enterovirus D68, the virus was confirmed in an 8-year-old girl from southeastern Massachusetts with a history of asthma who was treated and released from a Bay State hospital. Officials urged the public to take common precautions to prevent the spread of the virus, such as washing hands and avoiding contact of unwashed hands with eyes and mouth. DeMaria also said parents of children with asthma should make sure they have an asthma plan in place, or contact their pediatrician. While public health officials have confirmed just the single case so far, DeMaria said he expects more of the 80 specimens collected for testing to also come back positive, and said its likely that the virus has spread throughout the state, though it may present as a common cold. - M. Murphy/SHNS
Posted on: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 20:20:00 +0000
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