CDC: Enterovirus D68 confirmed in 46 states, detected in seven deaths

The CDC and state public health laboratories have confirmed 780 people from 46 states with respiratory illness caused by enterovirus D68, according to the CDC website.

Seven patients who died had enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) detected as of Oct. 15, according to the website. The CDC is reporting test results to state departments as they are obtained, with state and local officials having the authority to determine the cause of death and the appropriate information to release, the website stated.

This year, EV-D68 has been the most common type of enterovirus identified, with an increase in illness among children, particularly those with asthma, the CDC has reported.

The CDC announced Oct. 14 that it has developed and begun using a new, faster lab test for detecting EV-D68 in specimens from US patients with respiratory illness. The new test allows the CDC to more rapidly test the remaining specimens received since mid-September.

As is similar to other enteroviruses, EV-D68 infections are expected to begin declining by late fall. The CDC has received informal reports of some states seeing signs of decreasing EV-D68 and is gathering information to determine whether the information represents a national trend, according to the website.