By Jennifer Kohlhepp, Packet Media Group
HAMILTON — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is conducting tests to see if a 4-year-old township boy’s death was caused by Enterovirus D-68, according to the township’s health officer.
Eli Waller, a student at Yardville Elementary School, died Sept. 25 at home of a respiratory illness. The New Jersey Department of Health has ruled out influenza as the cause of death, according to Hamilton Health Officer Jeffrey Plunkett.
"Testing will take approximately three days from its start," Mr. Plunkett said.
The New Jersey Department of Health confirmed EV-D68 was present in the state Sept. 17. The department was notified by the CDC on Sept. 30 of two additional cases and was notified on Oct. 1 of four additional cases of EV-D68 in New Jersey children, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to seven.
The four latest cases are pediatric patients from Burlington, which has two cases, Camden and Morris counties. Three confirmed cases were previously announced in Essex, Passaic and Sussex. All seven children have been released from the hospital and are recovering. The children range in age from 1-9 years old. For reasons of medical privacy, the department will not be providing additional information about the children, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.
"The (New Jersey Health) Department has received several tests back from the CDC that were negative for EV-D68, and we have additional test results pending, including one from a Mercer County preschooler who died last Thursday," state Health Commissioner Mary O’Dowd of Princeton said.
The department is working with health-care providers and local health departments to closely monitor for increases in respiratory illnesses in hospitals across the state. There is an existing surveillance system in place to monitor flu-like activity, and the department will use that process to monitor for EV-D68.
"Enterovirus D68 is treated the same as other respiratory illnesses that are seen in children this time of year," Ms. O’Dowd said.
There is no vaccine or specific antiviral medication for enterovirus infections.
"Parents and caregivers should be aware that children with weakened immune systems or underlying medical conditions, such as asthma, may experience severe complications and require hospitalization with supportive therapy," Ms. O’Dowd said.
According to the CDC, the United States is in the middle of the EV-D68 season, which lasts from summer to the end of fall. From mid-August to Sept. 29, the CDC has confirmed a total of 443 people in 40 states and the District of Columbia with respiratory illness caused by EV-D68. EV-D68 is one of the less common enteroviruses of more than 100 non-polio enteroviruses.
The virus was first identified in California in 1962, according to the CDC.
EV-D68 can cause mild to severe respiratory illness. Mild symptoms may include fever, runny nose, sneezing, cough, and body and muscle aches. Severe symptoms may include wheezing and difficulty breathing, according to the CDC.
Since EV-D68 causes respiratory illness, the virus can be found in an infected person’s respiratory secretions, such as saliva, nasal mucus, or sputum. EV-D68 likely spreads from person to person when an infected person coughs, sneezes or touches contaminated surfaces, according to the CDC.
In general, infants, children and teenagers most likely are to get infected and become ill because they do not yet have the immunity from previous exposures to these viruses, according to the CDC.
Children with asthma may have a higher risk for sever respiratory illness caused by EV-D68.
People can protect themselves by washing hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after changing diapers; avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands; avoid kissing, hugging, and sharing cups or eating utensils with people who are sick; and frequently disinfecting touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs, especially if someone is sick, according to the CDC. For more information about EV-D68, visit www.nj.gov/health.
