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State Health Department: Confirmed Cases Of Enterovirus In Central N.Y., Albany Area

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - New York State's Health Department says the severe respiratory illness that swept through the Midwest, sickening children, has moved east.

As WCBS 880's Ginny Kosola reported, there are confirmed cases in central New York and the Albany area. However, the virus is not fatal.

As CBS 2's Diane Macedo reported Friday night, officials are testing samples for other parts of New York to see if there are more cases.

There were no reports of any cases in New York City or the immediate surrounding area as of Friday night, but the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene was monitoring the situation.

"While there have been no reported clusters of enterovirus D68 in New York City, the Health Department is monitoring the situation and remains in frequent contact with the CDC, as well as hospitals, clinicians, and NYC laboratories," the department said in a statement. "We remind New Yorkers that the best way to prevent the spread of many infectious diseases is through frequent and thorough hand washing."

Many children who contract the virus will just have the usual symptoms of a cold, but Dr. Allen Dozor, chief of pediatric pulmonolgy at New York Medical College and Maria Fareri Children's Hospital, says the danger is if respiratory symptoms appear.

The virus is spread through contact with an infected person or via contaminated surfaces.

State Health Department: Confirmed Cases Of Enterovirus In Central N.Y., Albany Area

"They need to speak to their doctor and their doctors will start them on asthma therapy and as best we can tell, in the vast majority of children with this virus, moderate asthma therapy is very effective," he said.

Dr. Dozor advises to wash your hands and teach your children to cough into their sleeve. He also urges getting a flu shot; although it doesn't protect against EV-D-68, you could get more than one strain at the same time.

If your children are sick, Dr. Dozor says it's also best to keep them home from school.

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