Rare Respiratory Virus EV-D68 Spreads to Northeast
The rare respiratory virus that has already sent hundreds of kids the the hospital has spread to New York, reports CNN. More that a dozen cases of Enterovirus D68 have been confirmed by the CDC.
In a statement released on Friday, the New York State Department of Heath said, "EV-D68 is causing cases of severe respiratory illness ... sometimes resulting in hospitalization, especially among children with asthma." CNN reports more than 80 cases have been confirmed in Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, and Missouri, while many other states have samples to the CDC for testing. New York is reportedly the first state to have confirmed cases in the Northeast.
New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker spoke about the spreading virus:
"It is important that we follow common sense rules to prevent the spread of this virus, as we do for flu and other contagious illnesses. ... Because there is no specific treatment or vaccination against this virus, our best defense is to prevent it by practicing proper hygiene."
