Health chief: No cases of enterovirus in Wayne
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on September 28, 2014 1:50 AM
While no cases of the enterovirus D68, or EV-D68, have been reported locally, the county health director said education and prevention are still important.
The state Department of Health and Human Services confirmed six cases of the virus earlier this week. Officials have not provided details about the affected children or the areas of the state from which the cases were reported. However, all of the children were under the age of 10 and suffered from respiratory illnesses.
"We haven't seen any confirmations here in Wayne County," Health Director Davin Madden said. "I don't even know where the cases they have identified are yet."
There are currently no vaccines or specific treatments for EV-D68, making prevention the best recourse.
The range of common symptoms typically includes runny nose, coughing, mouth sores, fever and body aches. Some patients may also develop wheezing and difficulty breathing. To be safe, Madden recommended seeking medical attention.
"For the past few years, we have seen the re-emergence of uncommon viruses such as H1N1 and others. We have also seen the emergence of previously unidentified or untyped viruses such as the Middle East coronavirus," he said. "Given the recent attention to all of the previously unknown and mysteriously named viruses, one would think we have this sudden swell of infections across the globe. While there may be some truth to this, most of the cause for the recent specificity is owed to better surveillance and improved detection methods. Basically, we are getting better at reporting cases that are suspicious and then testing for identification."
Now that North Carolina has confirmed cases of the enterovirus, Madden said there are several ways to respond.
"First, we should not be overly alarmed. While this particular enterovirus can produce more severe respiratory symptoms, especially in children, teens and young adults, proper precautions and conscious prevention can greatly reduce the risk of infection," he said. "Enteroviruses are more prevalent in the late summer and fall seasons so we can expect to see people with symptoms, such as runny noses, coughing, sneezing and fever during this seasonal shift. Not all are due to infections, either."
Those with existing respiratory issues, such as asthma, are advised to take extra precautions since they are more susceptible to infection and at a higher risk of more severe conditions. And while some medications can treat the symptoms, there is no specific treatment for EV-D68 and infected persons may need to be hospitalized under some conditions, he said.
Avoiding possible infection is key.
In this "new age of viral taglines," preventive measures should be common knowledge, he said -- basically, use the same rules applied to the flu and other communicable diseases.
"First and foremost, wash your hands properly and as much as needed. We may not realize exactly when that should be, but by rule of thumb, any time you touch a contact surface that is frequently exposed to public traffic, such as door handles or gas pump handles, you should try to wash your hands before touching your face, nose or mouth, and before eating," he said. "Also, avoid close personal contact or sharing of utensils and cups with anyone that appears ill or symptomatic.
"Lastly, disinfect items that get handled often by multiple people, such as toys and keyboards. It can only reward anyone for taking some extra preventive cautions."