PENSACOLA, Fla. – The Florida Department of Health has confirmed a second case of Enterorvirus in Florida in an 8-year-old boy who lives in Escambia County.
Health officials are advising parents, childcare workers and health care professionals to be vigilant for respiratory virus infections such as Enterovirus, respiratory syncytial virus and influenza, WPLG-TV in Miami reported.
Officials said EV-68 can cause difficulty breathing in infants and young children, and is highly contagious, spreading through droplets in coughs or sneezes, or when someone touches a contaminated surface like a countertop or doorknob.
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Symptoms of EV-68 are similar to the common cold, the flu and respiratory syncytial virus, showing signs such as a cough, stuffy nose and low-grade fever.
In some cases EV-68 may become serious enough to require hospitalization.
Those at increased risk for severe presentations of EV-68 are people with asthma, particularly children.
Preventative measure include:
Covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or elbow
Avoiding sharing cups and eating utensils
Refraining from kissing others, especially those with symptoms
Frequently cleaning potentially contaminated surfaces (doorknobs, countertops, tables, toys, etc.) using a bleach solution (1 part bleach and 9 parts water)
Call your doctor if you or your child show the following symptoms:
Wheezing
Trouble breathing
High fever with ill appearance
Thick nasal discharge
Signs of dehydration
While alcohol-based hand sanitizers and disinfectants have not been found to be effective against EV-68, frequent hand washing and the use of non-alcohol surface disinfectants are recommended.