2 Israeli children contract dangerous virus
Enterovirus D-68 has arrived in Israel after spreading throughout US and Canada. Virus can cause respiratory problems and even paralysis in rare cases.
A highly contagious virus, which has caused severe illness among children in the US and Canada, has been identified in Israel for the first time.
Two children who had been infected by the D-68 virus were hospitalzed at Sheba Medical Center with severe respiratory illness. Alertness has been raised for fear of additional cases.
The virus was first discovered in California, in 1962, and over recent months has swept over the US. 1,116 people have been reported as infected in the recent outbreak, in 47 different countries. The infected have mostly been children. 70 of these have been paralyzed, and an additional 12 have died. The children hit hardest were asthmatics.
In tests done in October at the Central Virology Laboratory in Tel Hashomer Medical Center, headed by Professor Ella Mendelson, it was ascertained that two children, both under the age of ten, had contracted the virus. They developed a severe respiratory illness, but did not suffer paralysis. One of the children was released to his home in good condition, while the other was transferred to a rehabilitation center because of other illnesses.
At this point, there were no reported cases of infected children, although it's possible that less serious cases have gone unrecognized.
The illness is part of the enterovirus family, which includes more than 100 viruses, including the polio virus. It can cause respiratory failure, among other symptoms. In certain cases, it may reach the brain and lead to muscle weakness, and in rare cases even paralysis. No cure has been found.
Children and adolescents are the most susceptible population, because they have no built-up antibodies from prior infections. The elderly may also be infected by the dangerous viral, but in most cases they develop only minor symptoms, if any.
The symptoms include shortness of breath, mouth ulcers, and muscle pain.
The good news is that the period most conducive to its spread is the summer and fall, meaning we may be nearing its end. Meanwhile, in order to avoid infection, people should maintain a high standard of hygiene, frequently wash their hands for at least 20 seconds, and disinfect surfaces that they often touch, such as toys or doorknobs.
The Ministry of Health confirmed that two cases had been identified in Israel, but that nevertheless, there was no justification in calling it an outbreak.
