Enterovirus D68 Reaches Northern California As Solano County Child Falls Ill

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — The enterovirus D68 has infected hundreds of children across the country, and now it has arrived in Northern California with a child turning up ill in Solano County.

The virus has already infected nearly a dozen people across California and may be linked to the deaths of several children nationwide.

Doctors say the Solano County child had a mild case and was not hospitalized.

The illness in most cases is similar to a cold, but in the most extreme cases, it leads to wheezing and difficulty breathing.

"There have been kids that have been severely ill from it that have ended up in the intensive care unit," said Dr. Michael Stacey.

Doctors say the virus is spread through coughing or sneezing, which are among the symptoms, including a runny nose, body aches and possibly a fever.

Infants, children and teens are most vulnerable.

Doctors recommend washing your hands frequently, disinfecting surfaces, not sharing utensils, and staying home if you or your children are sick to help combat the disease.

Another concern with the virus are polio-like symptoms some children have shown that include limb weakness or paralysis. But doctors caution there is not a confirmed link between the two.

"That is a link we will have to wait and see what info we get on that," he said.

There is no specific treatment, vaccine or antiviral medications currently available for the respiratory illness caused by EV-D68.