Ottawa hospital treats 4 kids for enterovirus D68, expects more cases

OTTAWA – The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario says four children with confirmed enterovirus D68 respiratory virus infection were admitted to the Ottawa centre but have recovered and been discharged.

The hospital known as CHEO says the patients did not require treatment in the intensive care unit for the virus.

Enterovirus D68 causes symptoms similar to those of the common cold, but children with underlying respiratory conditions like asthma may suffer more severe symptoms, including difficulty breathing.

There is no specific medication to treat the virus.

The virus has affected at least 130 children in 12 U.S. states since mid-August and has recently spread into Canada, causing a number of cases in B.C., Alberta and Ontario.

CHEO says it expects to see more children with enterovirus D68 in the coming weeks.