The San Juan Basin Health Department has released a public-service announcement concerning enterovirus. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is investigating an outbreak, mostly focused in the Denver area.
“We have not locally seen any cases that we are aware of,” Flannery O’Neil, health planner and communication specialist with San Juan Basin Health, said Tuesday. She said the goal of the announcement was to get information out to parents about the virus to raise awareness.
Children’s Hospital Colorado samples have come back with a 19 of 25 confirmation rate for enterovirus-D68, a respiratory virus. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, trouble receiving enough oxygen and wheezing; a small percentage of those affected have a fever. Some patients have been hospitalized, but no fatalities have been reported.
Although enterovirus is not required to be reported, medical providers are advised to inform the local or state health department of any clusters or outbreaks for tracking purposes. San Juan Basin Health can be contacted at 247-5702.
Elaine Severson is a student intern in her junior year at Fort Lewis College.
