State health officials: 1 case of enterovirus detected in Santa Cruz County

California public health officials have confirmed that enterovirus has been detected in 14 patients in the state, including one case in Santa Cruz County.

Friday, the California Department of Public Health gave an update on the virus, which has caused hundreds of respiratory illnesses and possibly several deaths nationwide.

At least three new cases emerged in minors in Northern California on Thursday – two in Alameda County and one in Solano County. Cases have also been reported in children in Los Angeles, San Diego and Ventura counties.

Dr. Ron Chapman, CDPH director and state health officer, said Friday that one case also has been confirmed in Santa Cruz County, another in San Francisco and two others in Riverside County and Long Beach City.

State health officials said there are other specimens from throughout the state being tested at CDPH laboratories and more cases are anticipated in the coming weeks. CDPH continues to work with local health departments to collect and test specimens from patients with severe respiratory illness and acute flaccid paralysis without other known cause.

More than 500 cases have been reported in 43 states. Many patients have been children. Four people with the virus have died, although it’s unclear what role it played.

Enterovirus D68 can cause mild to severe respiratory illness and can attack the nervous system in severe cases. There’s no vaccine or specific treatment. The virus likely spreads from person to person when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or touches contaminated surfaces.

“We are not surprised to find EV-D68 causing some illnesses in California given the apparent widespread nature of this virus in other parts of the country,” said Dr. Chapman.