Alberta health officials are currently conducting tests on a number of children that have contracted a serious virus that has sickened thousands of kids in the U.S., heightening concerns that it has crossed the border.
According to reports, 18 children have contracted the D-68 virus; 10 in Calgary, five in Edmonton, and three in other areas.
Officials aren’t sure yet whether or not the virus is of the same strain as the outbreak in the U.S., but they say tests will confirm that suspicion.
“18 cases out of 100 that we’ve looked at so far are D-68,” says Dr. James Talbot, the AHS Chief Medical Officer of Health. “We don’t know if it’s the same D-68 that’s described in the U.S. We are working with the public health lab and the national lab to determine whether that’s the case.”
The D-68 strain of the entero-virus can cause severe symptoms such as wheezing, trouble breathing, and a loss in appetite.
It’s particularly dangerous for small children and those affected by asthma. Most children who contract the disease will need to be hospitalized.
The virus spreads much like the common cold and it can live on surfaces for a period of time.
There is currently no specific treatment or vaccine to defend against infection. Mild symptoms can be treated with over-the-counter medications for pain and fever.
Health officials in Ontario are also dealing with a possible outbreak of D-68. 10 children are sick in hospital in Windsor.
It’s not clear yet whether they have the virus.
(With files from CTVNews.ca)
