Washoe County reports state’s first enterovirus case
A person in Washoe County has been confirmed to be infected with enterovirus D68, a pathogen known to cause severe respiratory illnesses, the Division of Public and Behavioral Health Announced on Wednesday.
EV-D68 has affected mostly children in the U.S. and up until Wednesday, Nevada Hawaii and Alaska were the only states without cases of the enterovirus.
From mid-August to December, the total number of cases in the United States was 1,121, the state agency said on Wednesday. The disease is predominant during the summer and fall.
Several symptoms for the virus could be deadly for some, especially children with asthma, and are similar to the flu. Those infected can show signs of a fever, a runny nose, sneezing, coughing and muscle aches. Others can include wheezing and difficulty breathing.
Washing your hands, not touching your face with dirty hands, avoiding close contact, covering up while sneezing and coughing, and disinfecting areas is the best way to avoid spreading the disease, the health department said. Keeping your children at home if they’re sick is also recommended.
More information on the virus is available at www.cdc.gov/non-polio-enterovirus/about
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