Enterovirus D68 Circulating in Iowa
Cases of severe respiratory illness caused by enterovirus D68 (EV-D68), have been confirmed in Iowa according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.EV-D68 infection often begins with mild cold-like symptoms, and most people will recover at home within a few days. However, a small percentage of individuals may develop a more severe respiratory illness. Individuals with a history of asthma, other respiratory issues or with a compromised immune system are at greatest risk of progressing towards severe illness and should be carefully monitored if they develop any cold-like symptoms.
There is currently no vaccine to prevent EV-D68 infections, nor specific anti-viral medications available. In most cases, infections will be mild and self-limited, requiring only symptomatic treatment as shown below:
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Rest.
- Stay home so you do not spread the virus to others.
The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) is investigating cases and will arrange for testing according to the CDC guidelines. CDC will perform typing testing for surveillance purposes in the following situations:
- Hospitals experiencing increased numbers (above baseline) of admissions (especially to pediatric ICUs) due to respiratory infection. CDC is especially interested in performing typing on specimens that have already tested positive for enterovirus infection.
- Clusters of unknown respiratory illness among populations of any age that are in close contact, such as residential facilities.
For more information, contact the IDPH’s Center for Acute Disease Epidemiology at 800-362-2736. Upon approval, the State Hygienic Laboratory will coordinate specimen collection, test request forms and submission to CDC.
Testing information is available on the Hygienic Lab website at https://www.shl.uiowa.edu/news/enterovirustesting.xml.
