Information for Families regarding EV-D68
You may be aware of recent news reports regarding a strain of enterovirus (EV-D68) causing widespread illness in parts of the United States. As of September 9th, we have had no confirmed cases of this particular virus strain in Washtenaw County however, we are working closely with the Washtenaw County Health Department to monitor this situation. In the school setting, we are taking extra precautions to monitor for illness among our students and to increase hand washing efforts. Hand washing is the single most important strategy we can use to prevent the spread of illness in general.
What is Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68)?
Enteroviruses are very common viruses. There are more than 100 types of enteroviruses. It is estimated that 10 to 15 million enterovirus infections occur in the United States each year. Most enterovirus infections in the U.S. occur seasonally during the summer and fall. In fact, enteroviruses are the second most frequent cause of “the common cold.” Unlike the majority of enteroviruses that cause a variety of symptoms, EV-D68 has been associated almost exclusively with respiratory disease and causes mild to unusually severe respiratory illness. EV-D68 infections occur much less often than other enterovirus strains, but like other strains, EV-D68 spreads through close contact with infected people.
What are the symptoms to watch for?
People who are infected with EV-D68 can have a range of symptoms, from mild to severe illness requiring hospitalization.
Symptoms may include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Cough
- New onset wheezing
- Fever
- Tachycardia (fast heartbeat)
For more information about EV-D68 and links to other sources, please visit the Washtenaw County Public Health site at:
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