A strain of the enterovirus that killed a 4-year-old Hamilton Township boy in September has caused concern for a multitude of parents. Local healthcare professionals and daycare-center officials say the key to helping avoid the spread of that and other viruses is public vigilance.
“It’s very simple. It’s universal precautions,” said Dr. Meika Roberson, chief medical officer at CarePoint Health, which runs Hoboken University Medical Center, Bayonne Medical Center, and Christ Hospital. “It’s hand washing, hand washing, hand washing.”
On Oct. 24, a student at the Brandt Elementary School in Hoboken tested positive for the enterovirus, city spokesman Juan Melli confirmed two weeks ago. However, Melli could not say that it was the deadly strain that has affected children across the United States, and noted that there are more than 100 strains of enterovirus. The child’s doctors did not think it was necessary to test him for the deadly strain. The student’s classroom was sanitized, and no more cases have been made public.
Parents were worried because in September, a 4-year-old boy in Hamilton died in his sleep from the virus and had exhibited no symptoms except what looked like pinkeye. Most sufferers exhibit some symptoms.
“Universal precautions” is the healthcare industry-wide standard of not only washing hands, but of wearing masks when necessary and properly disposing of medical waste. In hospitals and other facilities, the practice is indicated by signs in patient and laboratory areas.
EV-D68 is a serious upper-respiratory illness. It is one of the dozens of enteroviruses that differ in severity. First isolated in the early 1960s, the D68 virus, once considered rare, has been on the rise in the United States and the world in this century. The recent U.S. outbreak, which began in August, affected children in more than 40 states and caused at least five deaths.
Dr. Roberson said that Hoboken University Medical Center has not seen any severe respiratory illnesses that have resulted from the EV-D68 virus this season.
“It’s hand washing, hand washing, hand washing.” – Dr. Meika Roberson
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After years of adults being schooled that hand washing is important, Dr. Roberson said the key now is the education of children.
“Adults are great with it,” she said. “It’s the kids we have to remind.”
As in Hoboken, the Jersey City Medical Center has not had any confirmed cases of EV-D68, according to Public Affairs Director Mark Rabson.
Diagnosing children with an enterovirus can be problematic for healthcare professionals, especially early on, because the symptoms are like those of many other illnesses, including influenza.
“It starts out like a common cold, so it’s hard to tell at the beginning,” Rabson said.
Like Dr. Roberson, Rabson suggests parents take as many precautions as possible: keeping an infected child away from others in the household, and making sure children cover their mouths when coughing and sneezing.
“But if they have concerns, they should contact their doctor or emergency room,” he said, “if their respiratory problems become more severe, especially in asthmatic patients.”
Confirmed case
Hudson Regional Health Commission Health Educator Monique Davis said Hudson County is one of the 14 counties in the state that have had a confirmed case of EV-D68. She could not say the town or the age of the sufferer. She said that the state only made public that there was at least one confirmed case in the county.
She said that it is unlikely that the state will keep doing so, and that it’s only done at the beginning of a possible spread.
Donna Leusner, director of communications for the state Department of Health, would not give specifics either, but said that the Hamilton boy was the only confirmed case of a death due to the virus. She said Hudson had only one of the 29 cases reported in the state, in people ranging in age from 1 to 55.
Davis said there may be a specific reason Hudson is among the counties that had a sufferer.
“This is a respiratory virus, and the closer people live together, the greater chance it can be spread,” Davis said.
Like her fellow health professionals, Davis said the best defense against acquiring and spreading the disease is a simple formula: soap, warm water, and 20 seconds of washing. For children, those 20 seconds may be translated into an easy pneumonic device: two repetitions of the “Happy Birthday” song.
Regarding virus avoidance, don’t count on the longtime standby of hand sanitizers. They do not work with this problem.
“While it may protect against flu and other viruses, it doesn’t protect against this,” Davis said.
She also said that it is still prudent for all to get a flu shot, because if a child presents with flu-like symptoms, doctors may be able to rule it out.
Cleaning surfaces with a 10 parts-to-1 water-to-bleach solution is also helpful. In addition, once winter comes, the incidences of the enterovirus wane.
Daycare centers in the county say they are always watchful when it comes to avoiding the spread of viruses or any types of germs. But they did say they have a stronger focus this year because of the EV-D68 outbreak.
Daycares watching
At the Sunshine Preschool on Broadway in Bayonne, measures are taken every day to halt the spread of viruses, according to teacher Jennifer Smith.
“We clean up every night and before the kids come the next morning,” she said. “We spray Lysol and disinfect.”
Making sure children know to wash their hands is another precaution they take. A sanitizing pump is used throughout the day as well.
But if students do get sick, the center makes sure to notify parents quickly, so they can be picked up and taken to the doctor. Then, daily communication is made with parents to gauge the progress of the child’s recuperation.
Children are not allowed to return to the center unless their parents have a doctor’s note.
In Guttenberg, Xiomara Vasquez of the Omega Child Developmental Center said that daycare center employees are well read about the enteroviruses and other respiratory diseases.
“As soon as we see signs of it, as soon as a child gets a fever, we automatically send them home,” she said. “Then they’re allowed to return after 24 hours and with a doctor’s note. This has always been in place.”
Mildred Mabray, program director for the North Hudson Community Action Corporation’s Head Start/Early Head Start program, said her organization has a similar policy. The group has North Hudson locations in West New York, North Bergen, Union City, and Guttenberg.
Staying in close touch with parents and schools is also key to their efforts.
“We have great communication,” Mabray said. “We inform the parents, sending notes home in the children’s backpacks. “
Sending bulletins to local schools is also part of the program.
Bayonne program on virus
Healthcare and governmental leaders have taken the EV-D68 outbreak very seriously. On Nov. 6, a public program, “Ebola, Enterovirus, Influenza and You: What You Need to Know to Stay Safe and Healthy,” will be presented at 7 p.m. in the St. Vincent De Paul Church basement, 979 Ave. C, Bayonne.
The program will be presented by Raghu Varma, D.O., and Nina Cheung, M.D., of Astra Health Centers, of 564 Broadway. For more information on the program, call (201) 468-8888. The event is being sponsored by the Gary La Pelusa Association. La Pelusa is Bayonne’s 3rd Ward councilman.
Joseph Passantino may be reached at JoePass@hudsonreporter.com.