Enterovirus is in North Carolina, but WHERE?

WHERE?? => NC DHHS Confirms Three Additional Enterovirus D68 Cases (Oct. 7th, 2014) http://t.co/dVGfLCe8a3 #ncpol #ncgov #enterovirus

— LL1885 – A.P. Dillon (@LadyLiberty1885) October 8, 2014

I’ve been fielding a lot of emails and Facebook messages on Enterovirus.

This virus appears to be causing paralysis in some of the kids who have succumb to it and a 4-year-old New Jersey boy recently died from it. Overall, this thing has taken 5 lives.

From Sharyl Attkisson:

The CDC reports that in the past month and a half, at least 538 people in 43 states and the District of Columbia have become ill with EV-D68. Most of them are children and some developed limb paralysis. Polio, which can cause paralysis and death, is a type of enterovirus. EV-D68 is one of more than a hundred “non-polio” enteroviruses.

The actual number of EV-D68 infections is likely significantly higher than reported since some state health officials are not testing every suspected case.

The article also asks the question if there is a link to the influx of illegal children. These outbreaks started after they were shipped on buses all over the country.

Five lives and hundreds of cases reported with who knows how many unreported. Our national, state and local health officials won’t give any answers; they just give us advice on good hand washing practices.

People are rightfully concerned and deserve more information… like if this thing is present in their county or not.

Parents in North Carolina have told me that they have been contacting the NC Department of Health and Human Services trying to gain information on what specific counties have reported the virus’s presence.

So far, none of  these parents were given any information on the locations of reported outbreaks in North Carolina.

This is my own attempt and the response I received:

@LadyLiberty1885 EVD68 likely is present widely which is why we stress prevention. Steps on info sheet also protective for flu-other illness — NC DHHS (@ncdhhs) October 8, 2014

It’s “present widely”.  Gee…That’s so reassuring.

I found that Harnett county had received a letter from NC DHHS about Enterovirus. I then asked Wake County Schools if they had received such a letter:

@LadyLiberty1885 Nope. But – we still encourage good hand-washing, with or without a letter!

— Wake County Schools (@WCPSS) October 8, 2014

Again, not that reassuring.  Wake County Schools is one of the largest districts in the state with thousands of kids in it.

I received a tip that UNC Hospitals were treating up to 6 Enterovirus patients. Our media isn’t asking these questions, so I did:

@UNC_Hospitals I have it from a reliable source that you are treating a possible 6 #Enterovirus68 patients. Can you confirm or deny this?

— LL1885 – A.P. Dillon (@LadyLiberty1885) October 10, 2014

Related Reads:
ConMon Enterovirus Story Archive