Health officials have confirmed 50 cases of enterovirus in Alberta with the majority located in the Calgary region.
In Calgary, four of the 29 patients are exhibiting symptoms similar to those of two boys in British Columbia, confirmed Enterovirus D-68 patients. The children are suffering from a lack of movement in their limbs and extremities.
“We're investigating a potential association between Enterovirus 68 and flaccid paralysis,” explains Dr. Neil Rau, an infectious disease expert. “When you think about how enterovirus is distantly related to the polio virus this is a possible association."
Doctors believe the four children have been infected with D-68 but they are awaiting confirmation from laboratory reports. Thousands of children in the United States have been hospitalized by enterovirus, but it is not known if the strain is the same as the one Alberta is currently experiencing.
Dr. Gerry Predy, AHS Senior Medical Officer of Health, says the four Calgary patients have muscle weakness in their limbs.
The patients in British Columbia, a teenager and a young boy are not showing signs of improvement after contracting the enterovirus and the permanence of their limb paralysis is unknown.
Alberta Health Services officials have alerted doctors in the Calgary area to screen pediatric patients for the most serious symptoms of D-68.
“Enterovirus, over the past few years, has caused this type of illness in other parts of the world but we haven't seen it here locally," explains Dr. Predy
Dr. Predy adds most patients who contract entirovirus exhibit minimal symptoms and may never know they had it.
To avoid exposure to Entirovirus D-68, AHS recommends Albertans:
- Wash their hands on a regular basis
- Keep their hands away from their face
- Avoid people who are sneezing or coughing
If a child is exhibiting signs of extreme muscle weakness, contact a doctor immediately.
With files from CTV's Bill Macfarlane
