This 2007 photo provided by the Children's Hospital Colorado shows the facility in Aurora, Colo.CLOSER TO HOMEErlanger hospital has had"no confirmed cases of enterovirus d68. ... One patient at Children's Hospital has met symptom criteria for a severe respiratory infection, and specialists are doing further testing to determine the cause," a spokeswoman said."Erlanger specialists are currently waiting on test results from the state, which should be back by the end of next week."Neither Memorial nor Parkridge hospitals had experienced any suspected or confirmed cases on any of their campuses, spokespeople said.
Two cases of a virus that has caused severe respiratory illness across the country have been confirmed in Tennessee by the state Department of Health.
Both cases of enterovirus D68 involved young children, one in East Tennessee and one in West Tennessee.
The agency says both children were hospitalized but have been released and are doing well.
The cases were the first confirmed in the state.
Hamblen and Jefferson County Department of Health Director Sherrie Montgomery said the sampling is not done through her offices. She said most likely samples would be submitted directly from physicians to the regional health department.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's website, a total of 664 people in 45 states and the District of Columbia have been confirmed to have respiratory illness caused by the virus.
The CDC said that nationally the virus was detected in five patients who died.
Several Lakeway Area hospitals, including Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System, are hard at work with plans for action should a confirmed case arise.
MHHS Director of Community Relations Leigh Price Sempkowski said the hospital staff holds a daily meeting on safety.
At Thursday's meeting, they discussed preparations for enterovirus patients, she said, as well as other issues.
Sempkowski said hospital leadership, nurses and doctors all attended the meeting to discuss the hospital's already in place protocols for patients who exhibit virus symptoms whether that's enterovirus and or another.
"We are fully prepared for any patient who comes into our hospital who exhibits enterovirus D68," said MHHS Chief Nursing Officer Deadra Whitaker.
Enterovirus D68 is one of more than 100 non-polio enteroviruses.
EV-D68 can cause mild to severe respiratory illness from symptoms including fever, runny nose, sneezing, cough and body and muscle aches.
Severe symptoms may include wheezing and difficulty breathing.
According to the CDC, since EV-D68 causes respiratory illness, the virus can be found in an infected person's respiratory secretions, such as saliva, nasal mucus, or sputum.
The virus can spread from person to person when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or touches a surface that is then touched by others.
If someone shows symptoms and is having respiratory issues, the CDC recommends seeing a doctor.
The state health department advises frequent hand washing and not sharing eating utensils, cups or glasses to stop the virus spread.