Keep Your Child from Getting and Spreading ENTEROVIRUS D68
from Public Health Solutions District Health Department:
Nebraska was added to the list of States with confirmed Enterovirus D68 this week. A total of 18 states have had confirmed cases. With the confirmation of a case in Nebraska PHS wants to provide accurate and current information to help reduce the spread of this illness and the impact to families and communities. While there are no confirmed cases in the PHS health district we want to provide you with background of EV-D68 and the recommended prevention measures to limit the potential spread of the virus.
·How does the virus spread? Since EV-D68 causes respiratory illness, the virus can be found in an infected person’s respiratory secretions, such as saliva, nasal mucus, or sputum. EV-D68 likely spreads from person to person when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or touches contaminated surfaces.
·Who is at risk? In general, infants, children, and teenagers are most likely to get infected with enteroviruses and become ill. That's because they do not yet have immunity (protection) from previous exposures to these viruses. We believe this is also true for EV-D68. Among the EV-D68 cases in Missouri and Illinois, children with asthma seemed to have a higher risk for severe respiratory illness.
- What are the treatments? There is no specific treatment for people with respiratory illness caused by EV-D68. For mild respiratory illness, you can help relieve symptoms by taking over-the-counter medications for pain and fever. Aspirin should not be given to children. Some people with severe respiratory illness may need to be hospitalized. There are no antiviral medications currently available for people who become infected with EV-D68.
- How can I protect myself? You can help protect yourself from respiratory illnesses by following these steps:
- Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after changing diapers. Hand Sanitizers are not as effective in killing the virus.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid kissing, hugging, and sharing cups or eating utensils with people who are sick.
- Disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs, especially if someone is sick
- Stay home from work or school if you are sick.
Since people with asthma are higher risk for respiratory illnesses, they should regularly take medicines and maintain control of their illness during this time. They should also take advantage of influenza vaccine since people with asthma have a difficult time with respiratory illnesses.
Please contact Kate Lange, Surveillance Coordinator at 402-641-0536 with additional questions or concerns. We will keep you informed about any developments. We have also included a flyer for you to use to help remind students, staff and the public of the importance of preventive measures.