A little girl from Rhode Island has become the first person to die of the D68 enterovirus that is affecting children across the country.
The 10 year old died last week from complications associated with the virus according to a press release from the CDC. The virus has been found in three other people who died in September but was not the primary cause of their deaths.
“Infection by both Staphylococcus aureus sepsis and EV-D68 is a very rare combination that can cause very severe illness in children and adults,” the Rhode Island Department of Health said in a statement.
“Many of us will have EV-D68. Most of us will have very mild symptoms and all but very few will recover quickly and completely. The vast majority of children exposed to EV-D68 recover completely.”
the virus causes flu-like symptoms and is followed by neurological symptoms including weakness in the arms and legs. There is no way to prevent the virus. Good hand hygiene helps limit the spread between children, particularly those in school environments.