4 Year-Old NJ Boy’s Death Linked To D-68 Virus
When Eli Waller, 4, from Hamilton, N.J., died Sept. 24 while he slept, he had no symptoms of the Enterovirus D-68 – fever, sneezing, coughing, muscle aches or breathing problems.
His parents, who thought he had a case of pink eye, kept him home from daycare that day and tucked him into bed that night. When his parents went to wake him up the next day, Waller never did wake up.
Health officials said Oct. 3 that the little boy was infected with the EV-D68 virus. It’s the virus that has caused illness in approximately 600 people; most of them have been children, in 43 states and the District of Columbia. Four other people have died from the disease. However, there is no clear role in how the virus caused their deaths. Waller’s pink eye was not related to the D-68 virus.
Jeff Plunkett, health officer of Hamilton Township, said Eli’s case is an exception to the country’s other cases. He said the little boy had no signs of being sick with the virus and that his death is a shock.
In September, many Colorado children – some who were sick with the virus – suffered neurological symptoms like paralysis and muscle weakness.
The medical examiner said some children are more prone to suffer with D-68 because of an underlying health problem. However, Eli is the exception, as he had no underlying health problem. According to the health examiner, Eli had swelling in both his lymph nodes and brain because of the virus.
At Eli’s school – Yardville Elementary School in Trenton – another child has been tested for the virus. However, Plunkett said it’s highly unlikely the child picked up the virus from the surface. He said it is possible for surface contact but he said the possibility was low because of the way teachers and the janitors deal with the classroom and school. School officials have already disinfected the classrooms, buses and water fountains.
James Parla, superintendent of the school, said guidelines are in place to ensure kids wash hands before and after lunch.
According to the CDC, the Enterovirus 68, which was first noted in 1962, has no one treatment for people suffering with respiratory illness. People who are infected with the EV-D68 have no anti-viral medications they can take.
Online News Heard Now
Short URL: http://www.onlinenewsheardnow.com/?p=3604
Posted by