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Enterovirus D-68 Reported in Denton County

Denton County Health Department has confirmed a pediatric case of enterovirus-D68, making it the first case of the illness for the county.

The patient was hospitalized and has been released.

EV-D68 has already been reported in Dallas County.

In a statement, Dr. Matt Richardson, Denton County Health Department Director, said:

“We are reminding parents to take sick children with an unexplained respiratory infection to their healthcare provider, specifically children with asthma. When we see illnesses like this that have no specific treatment other than supportive care, we return to the basics of prevention. Hand washing, limiting exposure of sick kids to school settings and seeing the doctor when the child’s condition worsens are still the most important things parents can do.”

Some of the more severe symptoms of the EV-D68 are wheezing and difficulty breathing.

Mild symptoms of illness include fever, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, body and muscle aches.

For the most part, infants, children and teenagers are most likely to get enteroviruses because they do not yet have immunity from previous exposures to these viruses.

Children with asthma are more at risk for severe respiratory illness caused by EV-D68 infection.

EV-D68 likely spreads from person to person when someone coughs, sneezes or touches contaminated surfaces.

Now, hospitals in North Texas have received an alert from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about an investigation of nine cases of muscle weakness and paralysis in Colorado children, possibly attributed to EV-D68.

Those symptoms not been seen in North Texas, however hospitals continue to see children who may have EV-D68.

In fact, Medical City Children's reports that so far it has taken six samples of possible cases, including three of them on Friday alone.

Those samples will be held until the Dallas County Health Department calls for them and sends them off the to the CDC for testing.

"What we've seen so far is that it has run its course. It's just taking a little more supportive treatment," said Jim Allard, director of pediatric nursing at Medical City Children’s.

Allard said there has not been a recent spike in other respiratory illnesses like the flu, just children who have what appears to be EV-D68.

"It's causing wheezing in kids. It's the wheezing that's of concern, so if patients have the wheezing that's when they're asking families to reach out to their doctor," he said.

You can help protect yourself from respiratory illnesses, including EV-D68, by following these steps:

  • Asthma patients should take special precautions – Since those with asthma are at higher risk for respiratory illnesses, they should regularly take medicines and follow guidance to maintain control of their illness during this time. They should also take advantage of influenza vaccine when available since people with asthma have a difficult time with respiratory illnesses.
  • Wash your hands – Use soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if you cannot wash your hands. This is the easiest way to stop the spread of germs.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth – Some germs can live for 2 hours or more on surfaces like door knobs, desks, and tables.
  • Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing – Always cough or sneeze into a tissue and throw it away to prevent the spread of the droplets. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into the crease of your elbow.
  • Stay home when you feel sick – Stay home from work, stores, and public places, and keep sick kids home from school or daycare.
  •  Try to avoid close contact with sick people – Avoid kissing, hugging, and sharing cups or utensils with those who may be sick.
  • Practice good health habits – Get plenty of sleep and exercise, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat healthy food.
  • Disinfect frequently touched surfaces – Pay close attention to toys and doorknobs, especially if someone is sick.

For more information, visit the CDC enterovirus D68 website.

NBC 5's Ray Villeda contributed to this report.
 

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