HALIFAX – Nova Scotia does not currently have a test for a virus that has sickened hundreds of children in the U.S. but that could soon be changing.
Enterovirus is a typical virus that presents like the common cold; it is often seen in September as kids go back to school. It can be problematic for children with respiratory illnesses such as asthma.
However, a particular strain of the virus called Enterovirus D-68 has caused outbreaks in the U.S. over the last few weeks. On Monday, Alberta confirmed it was dealing with 18 cases of Enterovirus; however those cases have yet to be confirmed to be Enterovirus D-68. It is a similar situation in Windsor, Ontario.
READ MORE: Enterovirus D68: Where is it in Canada?
No cases have been reported in Nova Scotia.
“Certainly we are watching that like we do with any emerging infectious disease,” said Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Robert Strang.
“We’re certainly aware of what’s happening in the States and in other parts of Canada.”
Strang said there is no test for the D-68 strain here. Samples are sent to the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg to be identified.
But Strang said work is underway for tests to be done here in Nova Scotia.
“We’re working at our provincial laboratory to make sure we have the capacity to test for that specific strain,” he said.
Dr. Todd Hachette, chief of microbiology at Capital Health, said the lab can test for Enterovirus right now but it is not equipped to test for the D-68 strain.
“Like everywhere in the country right now, we’re interested to see if some of the viruses we’ve identified in the last couple of weeks are actually this Enterovirus D-68,” he said.
“What we need to make sure is the test we currently use will pick up this particular strain.”
Hatchette said he expects to receive samples from the national lab at the end of this week or early next week so work can start on creating the specific test.
“We generally use a special technique where we look for the genetic fingerprint of the virus. We don’t actually try to grow the virus but we just look for its presence by looking for its RNA.”
RNA is ribonucleic acid that transmits genetic information from DNA to proteins produced by the cell.
Public health officials are reminding people to wash their hands often, cough in their sleeve and stay home if sick.
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