Montreal health officials keeping an eye on Enterovirus D-68

Watch: What is the Enterovirus?

MONTREAL — Montreal hospitals are keeping a watchful eye on Enterovirus D-68.

The respiratory illness that can be particularly dangerous for young people with asthma has affected hundreds of children in the U.S. and Canada.

READ MORE: Alberta Health Services confirms 18 cases of Enterovirus D-68

A spokesperson for the Montreal Children’s Hospital told Global News that although there are no confirmed cases at that hospital, there have been patients with respiratory symptoms.

“A few patients with respiratory symptoms were tested, but we will only get the results in a couple weeks,” Stephanie Tsirgiotis noted.

READ MORE: Enterovirus D-68: Where is it in Canada?

She explained that the way to diagnose Eterovirus D-68 is not with a specific test, but after a nasopharyngeal swab is tested for respiratory viruses, positive specimens are then validated.

“It is only once the virus grows and is typed at the public health laboratory that we will know if we have had Enterovirus 68 cases.”

READ MORE: Is enterovirus D68 on Canadian health officials’ radar?

Tsirgiotis also said that respiratory symptoms caused by Enterovirus 68 were no different from other respiratory viruses like RSV (respiratory syncitial virus) or influenza.

“What is different is the time of year when we are seeing these respiratory deteriorations,” she said.

“It is normal in the winter when RSV and influenza, for example, circulate, less so in the summer.”

Watch: Enterovirus concerns in Canada rising

What are enteroviruses?

Enteroviruses are a group of viruses comprised of more than 100 different types of strains, according to Canadian microbiologist and author Jason Tetro.

Only a handful affect humans. EV-D68 happens to be one of them.

Other enteroviruses that are frequently seen in Canada include Coxsackie A19 and EV-71, which has caused outbreaks of hand-foot-and-mouth disease in kids.

In healthy adults, enterovirus wouldn’t lead to any serious concerns, but it’s young kids who are most vulnerable – especially if they have additional respiratory issues.

— With a file from Patricia Kozicka