CDC Confirms Enterovirus EV-D68 in Virginia

Virginia is now the 16th state with confirmed cases of Enterovirus D68, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Virginia Department of Health confirmed Wednesday that seven of ten children hospitalized at Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital for severe respiratory illness tested positive for EV-D68, The Associated Press reports. All seven children are within Richmond and the surrounding region, according to state epidemiologist Dr. Laurie Forlana. Test results are not yet available for 28 other Virginia children, though officials at St. Mary’s Hospital say the number of children exhibiting respiratory illness continues to rise.

Enteroviruses primarily affect children from 6 weeks to 16 years old, especially those with asthma and other respiratory conditions. Enterovirus EV-D68 is somewhat less common but has caused hundreds of hospitalizations this year alone.

The CDC estimates roughly 10 to 15 million people are infected with enterovirus in the United States each year, exhibiting symptoms like sneezing, runny nose and a cough.

Though symptoms can develop rapidly, sometimes within a span of 12 hours, the virus is self-limiting and should run its course within three to five days. There is no vaccine for EV-D68, though the virus is not deadly and can be prevented with simple hand sanitizers and ordinary soap and water.