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Hospitals In Norwalk, Danbury Testing Suspected Cases Of Enterovirus

NORWALK, Conn -- Doctors at Norwalk Hospital suspect they are seeing a few cases of enterovirus D68 -- a severe pediatric respiratory virus -- and have sent one case to the state for testing, according to The Hour.

Norwalk Hospital

Norwalk Hospital

Photo Credit: File
Danbury Hospital

Danbury Hospital

Photo Credit: Danbury Hospital

Officials at Danbury Hospital also believe they are seeing a case of EV-D68, a severe respiratory infection affecting young children, and have sent it for testing, according to WFSB Channel 3.

The state Department of Public Health reported Monday that eight patients in the state are suspected of having the dangerous virus that is sweeping the nation. Other patients were reportedly at Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford.

Test results are expected by the end of the week.

Dr. Vicki Smetak, chairman of pediatrics at Norwalk Hospital, said one case has been submitted to the state laboratory for testing, with two additional cases pending, according to The Hour.

The virus, which affects infants, children and teens, starts like a common cold but can be more dangerous. Symptoms worsen so that a child has difficulty breathing and hypoxemia, as well as wheezing.  

Most patients were not feverish, even during their hospital stays, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. 

About two-thirds of the patients had a previous medical history of asthma or wheezing, but some had no underlying respiratory illnesses.

Many of the patients were hospitalized, with some admitted to pediatric intensive care units.

Doctors in Danbury said a child who had a cold was given a swab test. The sample was sent to the CDC for testing, WFSB said.

"We are working with the hospitals to facilitate testing for EV-D68 by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention," said a statement from Dr. Matthew L. Cartter, state epidemiologist and director of infectious diseases.  

The CDC reports that from mid-August to Sept. 12, a total of 97 people in Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky and Missouri have been confirmed to have the respiratory illness caused by EV-D68. 

On Sept. 12, the New York state Department of Health announced that EV-D68 had been confirmed in more than a dozen children in New York.

Read the full story on the Norwalk Hospital cases here at The Hour website. Read the full story on Danbury Hospital here at the WFSB website. Read about the reported cases of the EV-D68 here on the Daily Voice. 

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