As Enterovirus D68 continues to spread around the country, doctors in Connecticut have confirmed one case of the disease and are still awaiting results to determine whether other patients have been infected.
“If we can give them the name of the virus their child has, it’s much more satisfying than saying, ‘Your child has a virus,’” explained Dr. Chris Carroll, pediatric intensivist at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.
Connecticut Children’s and Danbury Hospital have submitted samples from possible patients to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and officials from the state Department of Public Health say Enterovirus D68 is suspected at five Connecticut hospitals.
“We’ve treated probably dozens of children with the enterovirus that have symptoms of enterovirus,” Carroll said.
Cases of Enterovirus D68 have been confirmed in 22 states, and since Connecticut already has a confirmed case, further CDC testing could be delayed.
“The first priority is to test specimens from states that haven’t documented this before,” said Dr. Matthew Carter, state epidemiologist and director of the Connecticut Emerging Infections Program. “Connecticut now has a positive, so we’re not on the top of the list.”
In the meantime, Carter is urging parents to pay close attention to symptoms when their children are sick.
“Wheezing, difficulty breathing and tiredness is what I would look for,” Carter recommends.
Since the virus is relatively new, it’s still uncertain how it will progress and whether it will spread throughout the state.
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“Exactly how this is going to go for Connecticut, we really don’t know yet,” Carter said. “There is a lot we don’t know about this virus.”
Nonetheless, doctors are reassuring residents and say there’s nothing to fear.
“Treatment doesn’t change,” said Carroll. “There’s no reason to panic. Good hand washing and good hygiene is what’s going to prevent the spread of any disease, including enterovirus.”
