Suspected Enterovirus Cases Being Treated At MGH
BOSTON (CBS) – Massachusetts General Hospital said they had three cases of Enterovirus and were waiting for the CDC to confirm that it was the D68 strain, a hospital spokesperson said Thursday. The hospital also had nine other suspected cases.
The hospital said one child with a suspected case of the respiratory illness has been treated and released, while others are still being treated. Doctors said there's been a recent uptick of kids being admitted with suspected cases.
"We have seen a lot of admissions over the last three days with respiratory virus," Dr. Bernard Kinane said. "That could be related to the weather, but it could be Enterovirus."
Read: What to Know About Enterovirus
The hospital typically sees more children with respiratory illnesses this time of year because of the weather changes, Kinane said, however the cases so far have been more severe.
On Wednesday health officials confirmed that a child in Connecticut was diagnosed with the uncommon virus, the first case discovered in New England.
A Department of Public Health spokeswoman told WBZ-TV that no cases of the virus have been confirmed in Massachusetts.
Read: DPH Advisory on Enterovirus (.pdf)
Since August a total of 140 cases of Enterovirus have been confirmed in 18 states, though the majority of them have been in the Midwest.
Symptoms of the virus include fever, runny nose, sneezing, cough and body aches. The virus is normally manageable, however health officials say it can be more dangerous in patients with asthma.
Doctors are also reportedly running tests on seven children in a Springfield hospital for potential cases of Enterovirus, which recently was confirmed in New England for the first time.
Seven children were admitted to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield with respiratory illness, though hospital officials said there are no confirmed cases of Enterovirus.
According to the hospital, the vast majority of kids who are being seen for respiratory illness are being treated and sent home.
State health officials are advising doctors to test for Enterovirus if young children test positive for severe respiratory illness without any other explanation.
The state has also issued tips for avoiding the virus:
-Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after changing diapers
-Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
-Avoid kissing, hugging, and sharing cups or eating utensils with people who are sick
-Disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs, especially if someone is sick
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