CDC Investigating Possible Spread Of D68 Virus In King County

Dr. Danielle Zerr, Division Chief of Pediatric Infectious Disease at Seattle Children’s Hospital, and Dr. Jeff Duchin, Chief of Communicable Disease and Epidemiology at Public Health - Seattle & King County, address press concerning the enterovirus that appears to have infected 84 people as of Sept. 10 in King County.Credit KUOW Photo/Ruby de LunaEdit | Remove

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is testing a cluster of patients at Seattle Children’s Hospital to determine whether their enterovirus infection is the D68 strain that has cropped up in other states.

As of Wednesday, 84 people have tested positive for an enterovirus infection in King County, but neither the county nor the state has confirmed a case of D68, according to Seattle & King County Public Health.

The virus presents as a respiratory infection and spreads similarly to the common cold. The majority of those who contract the virus will have a mild illness that will not require medical attention, although cases of D68 in other states have resulted in children requiring emergency room visits and hospitalizations.

Public Health is encouraging people who appear seriously ill or have difficulty breathing to seek medical attention. There is no specific treatment or vaccine for this enterovirus infection.