According to the New York Times, a rare respiratory virus has struck dozens of children in Illinois and Missouri and may be fueling outbreaks in at least ten other states. This past Monday, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that the sick children contracted human enterovirus 68, which causes coughing, fever, and other symptoms that mimic a bad cold.

Usually strains of enterovirus cause problems in the fall. However, this year in the Midwest hospitals are seeing an unusually high spike of children with the virus. Mark Pallansch, a virologist a Director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Viral Diseases division stated that the number of hospitalizations could be "just the tip of the iceberg in terms of severe cases."

CNN reports that twelve states have contacted the CDC for assistance, including Alabama, Colorado, Michigan, Georgia, Ohio, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Utah. Four of the states - Iowa, Illinois, Colorado, and Missouri - have confirmed cases of the virus.

The virus poses the greatest threat to children under the age of five and those with asthma. Mary Anne Jackson, division director for infectious diseases at Kansas City's Children Mercy Hospital, stated, "It's worse in terms of scope of critically ill children who require intensive care. I would call it unprecedented... I've practiced for 30 years in pediatrics, and I've never seen anything quite like this," conveying the unusual nature of the illness.

However, it is important to remember that enteroviruses themselves are not unusual. CNN reports that this particular type of enterovirus is uncommon, but not new. It was identified in the 1960s, and since then there have been fewer than 100 reported cases. The biggest reason health officials are concerned is because of the unusually high number of hospitalizations.

CNN advises that in order to best avoid sickness, individuals should remember to wash their hands frequently, avoid contact with people who are sick, and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.