An "unprecedented" respiratory virus has resulted in an unusually high rate of admissions at Children's Mercy that is usually seen during the winter cold and flu season. The cases appear to be caused by human enterovirus 68 (HEV68), which causes severe coughing and other respiratory symptoms. The hardest hit are often children with asthma. More than 350 cases of the virus have been detected at CMH so far, with 55 of those being admitted to the PICU (pediatrics intensive care unit). Take a listen as Mary Anne Jackson, MD, Division Director-Infectious Disease, and podcast host Jason Newland, MD, Medical Director for Patient Safety, discuss this highly unusual event and how Children's Mercy is responding. (Time: 12:35)
An "unprecedented" respiratory virus has resulted in an unusually high rate of admissions at Children's Mercy that is usually seen during the winter cold and flu season. The cases appear to be caused by human enterovirus 68 (HEV68), which causes severe coughing and other respiratory symptoms. The hardest hit are often children with asthma. More than 350 cases of the virus have been detected at CMH so far, with 55 of those being admitted to the PICU (pediatrics intensive care unit). Take a listen as Mary Anne Jackson, MD, Division Director-Infectious Disease, and podcast host Jason Newland, MD, Medical Director for Patient Safety, discuss this highly unusual event and how Children's Mercy is responding.