Enterovirus D-68 is now in parts of Michigan, including right here in Kent County.

This is the extremely contagious respiratory illness that's making children and young adults sick in at least 22 states so far. 

There are now three confirmed cases of enterovirus D-68 in Michigan, including the one in Kent County.

Enterovirus as a whole is actually fairly common, but the D-68 strain is a rare, easily-spread, and sometimes serious strain. It mostly infects children and young adults between the ages of 2 and 18. It starts out with cold and flu symptoms, but can develop into pneumonia.

So far, there has only been one confirmed case in Kent County, but the health department suspects that there are others, spokesperson Lisa LaPlante told WZZM-13.

She explained that when you find out that there is one case of this strain of the virus, you find out that there were other cases that just weren't documented.

Children and young adults with asthma, wheezing, or some other sort of respiratory illness in the past who become infected with enterovirus D68 could end up in an intensive care unit.

In the United States there have been no reported deaths from the D-68 strain.

The Kent County Health Department advises that we take the following precautions: wash hands frequently, avoid close contact or sharing utensils with people who are sick, wash and disinfect surfaces, and try not to touch your eyes, nose and mouth. There is no vaccine or cure of enterovirus D68. Once you have the virus, it just needs to run its course through your body.

The CDC has confirmed cases also in Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

For additional information about EV-D68 or the national investigation, visit the CDC's website.

 

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