Enterovirus Affecting Thousands of Kids Across Country, Puts Bay Area Health Officials on Alert

A respiratory infection that has sent more than a thousand children pouring into emergency rooms across the country may soon be spreading to California.

The Enterovirus D68 is described by doctors as starting out like a common cold, but can quickly land children in the intensive care unit.

Bay Area health officials are looking at cases around the country, especially in Denver. Doctors there have reported 900 cases of Enterovirus in the last month.

"In the Bay Area we haven't had any cases of Enterovirus 68 identified yet," said Samantha Johnson, an infectious disease specialist at Children's Hospital Oakland. "If we start to see children with similar symptoms such as severe respiratory comprised with what seems like a common cold, we will be sending samples for specialized testing."

Health officials said symptoms of the virus include extreme trouble breathing, severe cough, wheezing, fever and rash. Infants, children and teenagers are most vulnerable to catching the virus.

Doctors who are dealing with the outbreak said the have never seen anything like it, which is why Johnson said parents in the Bay Area should be on the lookout.

"It can shed in respiratory secretion and in stool," Johnson said. "So parents changing diapers should wash their hands at least 20 seconds."

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