3 Manitoba children under the age of 10 test positive for Enterovirus D68
2 are from Winnipeg, 1 is from northern Manitoba
Three children in Manitoba have tested positive for enterovirus D68 (EV-D68).
Manitoba Health said two of the children are from Winnipeg, the third is from northern Manitoba.
All three are under 10 years old.
The province said all were hospitalized, treated and released are now at home and not in danger.
Health officials said they still don't know much about this virus, but are learning about it as it spreads.
The province doesn't track the virus.
Officials also said there are likely many more cases in Manitoba but many people don't show symptoms.
They stressed that there is no reason to worry about the appearance of the virus but emphasized people should take regular precautions, such as frequent hand washing and coughing into your sleeve, since the virus spreads like regular colds and flu-like bugs.
If a child has a high fever, difficulty breathing, is not drinking well or not urinating, parents can contact their health-care provider, call Health Links-Info Sante in Winnipeg at 204-788-8200 or 1-888-315-9257 (toll-free), go to a walk-in clinic, a QuickCare Clinic or the nearest emergency department.
Cases not unexpected
The confirmation of cases in Manitoba is not unexpected, as cases have been confirmed in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario, the provincial government stated in a news release.
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Most of the time, healthy children are only mildly affected or may have no symptoms at all. But in some cases, the illness can become more serious.
Provincial health officials in B.C. are trying to determine if a man and boy with EV-D68 developed paralysis-like symptoms because of the infection. Doctors are watching the two cases but say it's too soon to say if the virus is the cause.
And Alberta Health Services (AHS) says it's investigating four cases of paralysis in children, but the patients have not been diagnosed with enterovirus D68.
Respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough or a runny nose are the most common with EV-D68. It can also affect the lower respiratory tract, causing wheezing and shortness of breath.
Recently, several clusters of severe respiratory illness in hospitalized children due to EV-D68 infection have been found in the United States and Canada.
Certain children are at higher risk for more serious symptoms, such as those with asthma or other lung disorders, Manitoba's provincial health officials said.
Children with a weaker immune system, such as those on medications that reduce the immune response like chemotherapy or steroids, may be more seriously affected. Younger children, due to limited exposure to the virus, may also be more at risk.
This is not the first time that EV-D68 has been confirmed in Manitoba. In 2009, approximately 20 individuals, mostly children, were infected with this virus.