First confirmed enterovirus D68 case in C. Oregon

The Centers for Disease Control have confirmed the first case of enterovirus D68 in Central Oregon. Officials at St. Charles Bend said Friday the actual number is likely much higher.

“We’ve actually had 30 positive tests here in Central Oregon by our testing, which is not specific for D68,” said Rebecca Sherer, an infectious disease specialist with the hospital.

By Friday, the CDC had confirmed 691 cases in 46 states.

“People need to be aware of the strict criteria for confirmatory testing,” Sherer said. “That’s a gross underestimate of the number of cases that actually exists here in the United States. It’s probably more like 10,000 or 20,000 cases.”

Five children have died from the disease nationwide, none in Oregon. The child who was in the ICU at St. Charles due to enterovirus has since been released.

Although Sherer said there has been a steady stream of enterovirus cases at St. Charles in Bend, she added that there is no reason to panic.

Central Oregon has also not seen any of the limb weakness cases associated with D68 that have occurred in other states.

However, parents need to be cautious.

“We’ve seen a lot more enterovirus activity than the flu so far, and a lot more concern to parents than Ebola at this point,” Sherer said.

“We would follow similar protocols as we would with the flu,” Redmond School District spokeswoman Kelly Richards told NewsChannel 21. “However, nurses are watching for any signs of weakness or other neurological symptoms that are indicative of enterovirus.”

“If these are present, we would follow the similar protocol of immediately notifying parents, sending the child home and would also notify the local health department,” she added.

More information: http://www.cdc.gov/non-polio-enterovirus/about/ev-d68.html