The U.S. Midwest is in a very serious health crisis, and it's asking the support of the federal government.
Over the last few weeks, hospitals across Midwest states such as Missouri, Colorado, Kansas, Illinois, Oklahoma, Ohio, and North Carolina have experienced a rapid increase of children being admitted for a significant respiratory distress they believed to be enterovirus 68.
In an interview with CNN, the director and virologist of the Viral Diseases Division of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Mark Pallansch points out that enteroviruses, in general, are very common. They are responsible for colds and more than 10 million infection cases in the country. They are also more prominent during the summer, especially when it's around September.
However, two things bring concern to health experts. First, there are hundreds of different enteroviruses, and EV-D68 is not the most typical, although it has been around for over 40 years. It is also present in other countries like Japan and the Philippines.
In the United States, Missouri has already reported no less than 300 admissions of children that suffer from initially cold symptoms that progress to difficulty in breathing, fever, and rashes, to name a few. In the state, around 15% of these patients have to stay in the intensive care unit.
Meanwhile, in Colorado, one hospital had already treated close to a thousand children since August with more than 80 of them recommended for admission. One case involved quick progression of the illness in a matter of hours.
The state of Ohio reported seeing over 50 children on a daily basis. Within 3 days, the number of patients increased to 40%.
These Midwest hospitals are hoping the federal government can assist them in keeping track of the growing number of cases and, most of all, testing the patients. So far, the CDC has to provide a more definite answer as to the real cause of the illness.
Although there is no vaccine available, they can reduce their exposure by washing their hands and avoiding touching more open body parts like the eyes and mouth. They should also avoid coming into contact with infected patients.