Enterovirus detected in southeastern Mass. girl

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http://www.tauntongazette.com/article/20140923/NEWS/140928681/1994/NEWS

Enterovirus detected in southeastern Mass. girl

Massachusetts health officials have confirmed the state’s first case of Enterovirus-D68, a respiratory virus that has spread across the country in recent weeks.

Department of Public Health Commissioner Cheryl Bartlett told reporters Tuesday that the patient is an 8-year-old girl southeastern Massachusetts girl with a history of asthma. She was hospitalized earlier this month with wheezing and difficulty breathing before being treated and released.

Enterovirus-D-68, one of many strains of enteroviruses, can cause symptoms that range widely in severity. In most cases, the virus causes mild symptoms, including headache, fever, runny nose and muscle aches. Severe cases, however, may cause more serious problems such as difficulty breathing and tightness in the chest.

The virus is spread through coughs, sneezes or touching an infected surface. Bartlett recommends that parents be vigilant about thoroughly washing their hands, especially after changing diapers, to avoid spreading the virus to their children. She also suggests that people avoid touching their eyes, noses and mouths with unwashed hands.

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