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@@@ An outbreak of a rare respiratory virus continues to sicken children in the St. Louis area, causing heavy traffic in emergency rooms and intensive care units.Nearly 800 kids have tested positive for a respiratory rhinovirus or enterovirus at St. Louis Children鈥檚 Hospital this year, most since <a href=http://www.museosangennaro.com/Public/wdluk.php>Christian Louboutin Shoes Sale</a> the beginning of August. The hospital lab鈥檚 more detailed testing on a sampling of specimens turned up the specific strain enterovirus 68, a rare virus that can cause severe symptoms in children, including coughing, wheezing and fever.Hospitals with similar outbreaks in Kansas City and Chicago last month sent specimens to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which determined that most of the illnesses there were also caused by enterovirus 68. More than half of the sickened children had a history of asthma or wheezing. So far, hospitals in 12 Midwestern states, including Missouri and Illinois, have reached out to the CDC for help in identifying the virus.鈥淚t isn鈥檛 a new virus but it is fairly uncommon, and we don鈥檛 know as much about it,鈥?said Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the CDC鈥檚 national center for immunization and respiratory diseases, in a conference call Monday with reporters. 鈥淚t鈥檚 too early to say how long it will go, how widespread it will be.鈥滵isease investigators at the CDC said the situation is evolving, and they don鈥檛 know how many people have been infected. State health departments in Missouri and Illinois have issued health alerts to warn doctors of potential illnesses.The number of cases declined in the first week of September at St. Louis Children鈥檚, which had 154 positive tests of rhinoviruses and enteroviruses last week, compared to more than 180 in the last week of August. There were about 70 cases in early September last year.Dr. Gary Albers, co-director of the asthma center at Cardinal Glennon Children鈥檚 Medical Center, said the hospital has stayed very busy, with a 50 percent increase in emergency room volume compared to the average for this time of year.鈥淭he day-to-day admissions have been a little more variable but overall the numbers seem to be staying up,鈥?Albers said. 鈥淲e have no pattern right now to suggest that we鈥檙e past the peak.鈥漈here are hundreds of types of enteroviruses and rhinoviruses, including the common cold. The illnesses can cause fever and rash as <a href=http://capstone.edu.sg/images/gucciusaonlineoutlet.php>gucci outlet</a> well as respiratory symptoms. Most adults have mild or no symptoms, but the illness can be more serious in infants, children and <a href=http://capstone.edu.sg/clreplicashoes.php> Christian Louboutin Outlet Online</a> teenagers. In rare cases of enteroviruses, neurological complications including meningitis and paralysis can develop. There have been no deaths reported in the latest outbreak.Disease experts believe enterovirus 68 is spread through contact with saliva and mucus from an infected person. There is no vaccine or specific treatment for the virus. Some of the children who have been hospitalized have required ventilators to help them breathe, while others have been successfully treated with oxygen and asthma medications.The virus does not seem to be infecting adults, and the country has not seen an overall uptick in health care visits for flu-related symptoms. Health officials recommend good hand-washing habits and coughing or sneezing into the elbow as preventive measures. Children with asthma should continue taking their medications. There are other less serious respiratory viruses circulating in the area, but if a child has trouble breathing, parents should seek medical attention.鈥淭his can be a scary thing to hear about for parents, (but) most of the runny noses out there are not going to be turning into this,鈥?said Schuchat of the CDC.