Preventing Spread of Enterovirus

There are just over 100 confirmed cases of enterovirus D-68 across the United States. But there are not any confirmed cases in Ohio.

While there are no confirmed cases yet, there is an increase in people entering the emergency room with symptoms associated with the enterovirus. Kristin Baker is an epidemiologist at the Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department, and she said kids are more susceptible to this disease because they don’t have the antibodies to fight it.

"This particular enterovirus is causing a problem in asthmatic children and children with a history of wheezing or respiratory illnesses," Baker said. "That seems to be the majority of the cases that are getting hospitalized at this time."

Dealing with symptoms can be as easy as dealing with the common cold. Baker said you need to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds before eating or after going to the restroom. She adds that coughing into your elbow is also very effective because, as opposed to your hands, few people will come in contact with your elbow.

"It’s called coughing in your elbow where you just cough like this," Baker said as she demonstrated coughing into the bend of her elbow. "If you cough in your hand you’re going to use your hand to touch items, shake peoples hands, or your hand will come in contact with other people or other surfaces, so you’re basically transmitting the disease from your mouth directly to somebody else or to a surface."

Baker said area health officials are working with the Ohio Department of Health and the CDC to determine if the cases coming into the ER have a link to the enterovirus.