Medical officials are advising New Brunswickers to take all the necessary precautions to avoid the spread of the enterovirus.
Three children in the Fredericton area have tested positive for the virus, but there’s no word yet whether or not if it is the same strain that is has hospitalized people in the United States..
The province’s Acting Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jennifer Russell says, it will be a couple weeks before testing is complete to see if it is the same virus. “We do not have a confirmed case of D68 here in Fredericton. We have three patients that their bloodwork was sent off to test for that strain, but we won’t get that result back for three weeks.”
In the meantime, Dr. Russell suggests that we take the steps necessary to prevent this from spreading. She says, “Prevention is really the key. If you have a cough or a cold, be sure to cough into your elbow. Wash your before you eat, and after you go to the washroom. If you are sick, stay at home. if your child is sick, keep them at home.”
Symptoms of the virus are similar to the common cold, but they can have more severe respiratory problems.
Parents should keep a close eye on children with asthma, who may be showing symptoms including shortness of breath, and cold and flu symptoms.
