Is there a new viral outbreak growing in the U.S.? Amid the risk of the Ebola virus reaching the country following the treatment of several missionaries in Atlanta from the disease, health officials and local doctors observed that over a thousand children in around 10 states have sought treatment in hospitals due to a rare and serious respiratory illness. Denver Post quoted officials who said that the Children's Hospital Colorado had treated over 900 children beginning August 18. 86 of them had been admitted due to complications.
Pediatric infectious disease physician Dr. Christine Nyquist said, "We've been seeing a very high volume in our ER, ICU and among hospitalized patients. The hospital is very, very full. Kids are getting (the virus) and having asthma complications."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suspected that the virus is the human enterovirus 68, which is a relative to the rhinovirus. Rhinovirus causes the common cold. Buzzfeed said that a child infected with the virus has cold-like symptoms first, which escalates quickly. Majority of the children infected with the virus experience fever, coughing, muscle aches and wheezing.
Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Iowa, Colorado, Ohio, Oklahoma, North Carolina, and Georgia have already contacted CDC to launch an investigation into the matter, CDC Division of Viral Diseases director Mark Pallansch told ABC News. Doctors are still clueless as to how the disease is spread, but believe that it is being spread via close contact with infected patients.
TIME said that children who has asthma are the most vulnerable to the virus. At the moment, hospitals resort to asthma therapies for infected children. There has been no reported deaths from the virus outbreak this summer, but vaccines remain unavailable for children who have been affected with the disease.
Last week, the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services has issued a health alert about the outbreak. Here's some of the steps parents could do to protect their children from the outbreak:
1. Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. This is also recommended to parents after a diaper change.
2. Keep your unwashed hands away from eyes, nose and mouth.
3. Segregate the eating utensils and cups of patients from the rest of the family members. Kissing, hugging and other intimate action should be avoided with the patient.
4. Always use a surface or contact disinfectant, especially if someone in your family is infected. Spray frequently touched surfaces like toys and doorknobs.
5. If a child has symptoms, get in touch with your health care provider and avoid public places.