Officials confirm four Oregon kids have Enterovirus D68

Ore. –Enterovirus D-68 is now in Oregon.

State Health Officials confirmed that this D-68 strain of the Enterovirus, which causes a severe respiratory illness, has been confirmed in 4 kids in two different Oregon counties. The virus was found in three people in Multnomah County and one Deschutes County. All four patients are under the age of 17.

Jim Shames, Health Officer for Jackson County, says Jackson County has not confirmed any cases but they are keeping a sharp eye out for a cluster of the virus, “we are informed, we’re in good communication with the state and we get information from the CDC. We will certainly inform the public if there is something important or special they should be doing.

Shames says parents should keep up the usuals for this time of year, lots of hand washing and getting a flu shot as that will probably effect more children in the coming months.