NCDOH confirms six cases in state
By From staff reports
Published in News on September 23, 2014 1:46 PM
The state Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed the presence of enterovirus D68, or EV-D68, in six patients from North Carolina.
The specimens that tested positive for EV-D68 were obtained from children ages 10 and under with respiratory illnesses. Testing was conducted at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on specimens submitted from hospitals across the state.
Specific information about the children, including county of residence or hospital location, is not being released to protect patient confidentiality.
Dr. Zack Moore, a pediatrician and epidemiologist with the Division of Public Health, said the confirmed cases were located in different parts of the state.
There are no vaccines and no specific treatments for EV-D68, so prevention is the best option, he said.
Enteroviruses are common viruses that can cause a range of symptoms, include runny nose, coughing, mouth sores, fever and body aches. Some patients will also develop wheezing and difficulty breathing.
-- From staff reports