Health officials in Ontario and British Columbia are confirming that seven people in those two provinces have contracted enterovirus 68.
The British Columbia Centre for Disease Control confirmed three cases Wednesday, while the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa confirmed four cases.
Meanwhile, the Public Health Agency of Canada has sent out an public health alert to more than 4,000 health professionals across Canada, urging them to “remain vigilant” for possible cases.
On Wednesday, the BC Centre for Disease Control said it is continuing to monitor for new cases, but said in a statement to CTVNews.ca that the risk to most British Columbians is low.
In Ottawa, CHEO spokesperson Eva Schaecherl said all four children were hospitalized, but none require intensive care and the children have since gone home.
The virus, also called EV-68, causes symptoms that are similar to a common cold, but then worsens.
It predominantly affects younger children and those who have respiratory problems such as asthma. Alberta health officials have confirmed the virus made 18 children sick, although more tests need to be done to see if it is the same strain as in the U.S.
The CDC in the U.S. has confirmed 130 cases in 12 states between the middle of August and Sept. 16. And the number may be higher because most people who go to the emergency room aren't tested for the virus. Hospitals in those states have seen unusually high numbers of children visiting and being admitted for cold-like symptoms.
Over the course of three weeks, Children's Hospital Colorado reported seeing more than 900 children in the emergency room who were showing symptoms. More than 80 of the children were admitted.
Ontario’s Windsor Regional Health confirmed to CTV News that they are seeing a high number of children coming to emergency rooms with respiratory problems. The agency has sent samples to the lab for testing and cannot confirm if the patients are sick because of enterovirus.
Windsor admitted about 20 pediatric patients with illnesses and one child is in the intensive care unit. The hospital is restricting visitors in the pediatric unit.
Even though enterovirus was first identified in 1968, there aren't many confirmed cases. Symptoms often include fever, runny nose, sneezing, cough and muscle aches. Some patients – particularly the very young – can experience a severe cough and have difficulty breathing.
There is no vaccine to protect against enterovirus, but health officials suggest parents and children wash their hands regularly and cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing.
The B.C. CDC recommends that a child who is sick and having trouble breathing should be assessed by a doctor.
