Orange County Confirms First 3 Cases Of Enterovirus
SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — Orange County health officials confirmed Friday that the county has diagnosed its first three cases of enterovirus D68, the potentially dangerous respiratory ailment that has been spreading across the country.
The three patients are all children and they are unrelated. The Orange County Health Agency did not provide details on when the cases were diagnosed or the status of the patients.
"Due to the heightened awareness and surveillance for enterovirus D68, it is not surprising to identify cases in Orange County," according to Dr. Eric Handler, the county's public health officer.
More than a dozen cases of enterovirus D68 have been confirmed across the country. Besides Orange County, there have been eight cases confirmed in San Diego County, four in Los Angeles County, two in Riverside and one each in Ventura and Long Beach, according to California's chief health officer.
A New Jersey child, who did not display any of the typical enterovirus symptoms, died of the disease after going to bed with pinkeye and never waking up.
State health officials said the virus likely spreads from person to person when an infected person coughs, sneezes or touches contaminated surfaces. Symptoms can include fever, runny nose, sneezing, coughing and body and muscle aches. Some children can develop breathing difficulty and wheezing.
Orange County health officials said the following actions can help parents and children help prevent the spread of the disease by washing hands often with soap and water, especially after changing diapers; avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands; avoid kissing, hugging or sharing cups and eating utensils with sick people; and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs.
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