WATCH: Young man with severe asthma died in B.C. after catching enterovirus D-68. It’s the first death in Canada related to this strain of the virus. Jennifer Tryon has the story.
VANCOUVER – A young man in his 20s with a history of severe asthma has died as a result of enterovirus D68, the B.C. Centre for Disease Control announced Friday.
Dr. Danuta Skowronski says the man, who is between 20 and 25 years old, died earlier this week at a hospital in the Vancouver Coastal Health authority. He is from the Lower Mainland.
She says his death was a result of a “rapidly progressive respiratory failure that developed quickly.” It’s the first death in Canada.
Officials say the number of confirmed cases in B.C. has grown to 36, and affect all age ranges from less than one year old, to 80 years old.
65 per cent of cases are in children under 10; 15-20 per cent are adults 20 years or older; and two-thirds of confirmed cases are male “boys and men are disproportionately represented.”
Skowronski stressed that for most people, infection with enterovirus manifests as a common cold, and some adults may have no symptoms at all. Symptoms include runny nose, sneezing, sore throat and a cough.
To avoid infection, you’re advised to wash your hands frequently when coughing or sneezing. Also, avoid bringing your hands to your face, or touching your eyes, nose and mouth. These are all routes of entry for the virus to set up in the respiratory tract.
At the beginning of October the BC CDC said two patients in B.C. with the virus were showing signs of paralysis.
EV-D68 began spreading across North America a few months ago, with dozens of reported cases across Canada.
READ MORE: What you need to know about Enterovirus D68
In healthy adults, enterovirus would not lead to any serious concerns, but young kids are the most vulnerable, especially if they have additional respiratory issues.
Enterovirus symptoms are similar to the common cold, however, the strain in the U.S. has caused wheezing, and trouble breathing. The virus is also believed to be responsible for the death of a first grade student in Arizona.
To prevent the illness, the Centre for Disease Control has the following tips:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds;
- Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands;
- Avoid kissing, hugging and sharing cups or utensils with people who are sick;
- Cover your mouth with your elbow when you cough or sneeze;
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs, especially if someone is sick; and ·
- Stay at home from work or school when sick.
They also warn parents to seek medical care for their children immediately, if they start having trouble breathing or other respiratory problems.
The virus was first identified in California in 1962.
WATCH: Dr. Danuta Skowronski with the B.C. Centre for Disease Control talks about the virus
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