Health officials say two children sickened by EV D-68

Two children hospitalized last month in Spokane County had a virus that causes a severe respiratory illness. The Centers for Disease Control confirmed the children’s illness was associated with enterovirus D-68. Both were treated and released from a local hospital, according to the Spokane Regional Health District. The virus captured national attention during the late summer and early fall as it spread across the country during late summer and early fall. More than 1,000 people have had confirmed cases of the virus. There is no vaccine for the virus, which causes symptoms similar to the common cold. It afflicts mostly children and teens and can be especially harmful to people with respiratory problems. The two confirmed cases were among a slew of children hospitalized for respiratory illness. The health district reported 32 people were admitted for care. Dr. Joel McCullough, health officer for Spokane, said it is possible that more children were infected as further test samples sent for testing are returned. “As fall progresses, and as fewer hospitalizations are reported to us, we remain hopeful that this strain of virus is on the decline in our community.”