3 Fredericton children test positive for enterovirus

Three children in the Fredericton area have tested positive for enterovirus.

But it will be weeks before doctors know if it's the same strain that has hospitalized children across Canada and the U.S. in recent months, and caused at least one death, says New Brunswick's acting chief medical officer.

Samples have been sent to Winnipeg for testing to determine if it's the EV-D68 strain, said Dr. Jennifer Russell.

In the meantime, there are steps people can take to prevent contracting the virus, which causes symptoms similar to that of a cold, such as a runny nose and fever, but can cause serious respiratory problems, she said.

"Handwashing is really, really important," said Russell. "If you can use soap and water, that's great. If you can use a hand sanitizer, that's also good. And also if you're coughing or sneezing, do it into your elbow.

"And if you're sick, stay at home. If your child is sick, keep them at home."

New Brunswick does not routinely test for enterovirus because it is common this time of year, she said.

"It's ubiquitous, it's here in the fall, we see it. But I think with public health we're kind of keen on surveillance and keeping track of things like that, as what's going on in B.C., Alberta and Ontario.

"So we actually sent a little letter to the doctors in the last couple of weeks just saying, you know, if you see anybody with those symptoms you could test them, just to document what strain it was. But that would really be at the doctors's discretion."

A four-year-old boy in New Jersey recently died from the illness.