A SANTA CRUZ RESIDENT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED TO BE INFECTED WITH THE ENTEROVIRUS D68. THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ANNOUNCED ON FRIDAY THAT A PATIENT FROM SANTA CRUZ IS THE 14TH DOCUMENTED CASE IN THE STATE THIS YEAR. THERE ARE NO VACCINES OR SPECIFIC TREATMENT FOR EV-D68 WHICH CAN CAUSE PARALYSIS OR DEATH IN SEVERE CASES. CHILDREN WITH RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS SUCH AS ASTHMA ARE THE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE DISEASE. PARENTS THAT NOTICE FLU LIKE SYMPTOMS ACCOMPANIED BY LABORED BREATHING OR BLUENESS AROUND THE LIPS, SHOULD SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION.
