A second case of an illness that has sickened more than 500 people across North America has been reported in Waterloo Region.
Public health officials confirm that a sample taken from a second patient at Grand River Hospital has tested positive for enterovirus D68.
The first case was reported last week.
Kristy Wright, the manager of infectious diseases at Region of Waterloo Public Health, says it’s possible further cases are present in the community, as cases of the virus don’t have to be reported to authorities.
“There’s likely more of the enterovirus D68 circulating in our community than we’re aware of,” she said.
A spokesperson for Grand River Hospital echoed those comments, telling CTV News the new case isn't unexpected, given the virus was likely to spread as children returned to school.
Since the outbreak of enterovirus D68 began in August, hundreds of patients have been hospitalized in the U.S., as well as several in Canada.
Most have recovered, but four infected patients have died – although it’s not clear if any deaths were directly caused by the virus.
In one case, a 10-year-old Rhode Island girl died of a separate bacterial infection after contracting enterovirus D68.
Provincial Health Minister Eric Hoskins has said the virus is not something parents should panic over.
“This is a virus that has actually been around for many decades but it has emerged more substantially this season, particularly with kids going back to school in September,” said Hoskins. “But we’re confident, again, with the measures that we have in place.”
In Canada, a number of patients infected with enterovirus D68 have also exhibited polio-like symptoms.
In B.C., a boy and a male teenager with the virus suffered muscle weakness in one arm.
Their paralytic symptoms have yet to improve since being admitted to hospital.
Health officials in Alberta said Wednesday that doctors are investigating the possibility four children with respiratory and paralytic symptoms are infected with the virus.
Authorities in Hamilton are also investigating after four patients developed neurological symptoms including muscle weakness.
One of the four has tested positive for enterovirus D68, a Hamilton Health Sciences spokesperson said Thursday, but it’s unclear if there is a connection between the virus and the symptoms.
A further 10 such children in Colorado are exhibiting similar symptoms, although again no link between those symptoms and enterovirus D68 has been established.
Common symptoms of the virus include influenza-like symptoms such as fever and runny nose, occasionally including more serious respiratory issues.
According to Wright, one possible symptom sets enterovirus D68 apart from influenza and other viruses.
“What you might see with this virus that’s a little different from influenza is … wheezing,” she said.
“We normally see coughing with respiratory viruses, but not wheezing with all of them.”
With files from CTVNews.ca and The Canadian Press
