At least four people have reportedly died after acquiring severe respiratory illness, with symptoms which have been linked to Enterovirus 68 or EV-D68. But, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), while EV-D68 was the definite cause of the four deaths, it is uncertain to what degree the virus contributed to them.
One of the casualties was a 10-year old girl from Cumberland, R.I. who passed away within 24 hours after being admitted to the hospital. She was reported to have acquired a complicated case of severe bacterial infection (staphylococcus aureus sepsis) along with Enterovirus 68.
"Very quickly after they got to the hospital, things became dire," said Dr. Michael Fine, Rhode Island Health Department Director.
Meanwhile, CDC also reported 472 confirmed EV-D68 cases on Wednesday, but experts contended the report as the number seems to be understated.
According to CDC, EV-D68 causes respiratory illness and can be transmitted from person to person through coughing and sneezing. Individuals are also at risk of getting the virus by touching contaminated surfaces. Further, children are reportedly more vulnerable because they have yet to develop immunity from exposure to the virus.
"We already know that EV-D68 is extremely dangerous to our children, particularly those with asthma and pre-existing respiratory conditions," wrote Senator Barbara Boxer in a letter to the National Institute of Health, inquiring about the growing case of infection in California.
As of the moment, CDC is making efforts to stop the spread of the virus by gathering data from different states to better assess the situation, and it is continually working with local health departments and clinical and state laboratories to investigate the outbreak.
Meanwhile, "Patient Zero" was documented in August at the Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas, Missouri, after reports of children exhibiting symptoms similar to colds, like coughing and fever, were admitted to the hospital.
