Chatting about Enterovirus D68

Dr. Thomas Kirsch is a member of the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council and is the national physician advisor for the American Red Cross Disaster Health Services.  He is deputy director of the Johns Hopkins Office of Critical Event Preparedness and assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. A  new virus spreading across much of the country, known as Enterovirus D68, that is much like the flu –with  fever, sneezing, aches, and a runny nose – but with a cough that is a problem for many patients. For some infants, children, and teens – especially those with asthma – the respiratory effects of this virus can be severe and require a trip to the emergency room or hospitalization. With the virus identified in 12 states to date in early October, and flu just season around the corner, it’s time to prepare. Today, I participated as a guest in the ABC News Twitter Chat about the Enterovirus. You can find tweets from the chat by searching #abcDrBchat in Twitter. People can also follow these seven guidelines to protect yourself and your family from the Enterovirus and the flu: Soap it and stop it. Proper hand washing helps avoid getting and spreading viruses. If using soap and water, wash thoroughly for at least 20 seconds, rinse, and then dry with a disposable towel (and use it to turn off the faucet). If using an alcohol-based sanitize, rub thoroughly over the hands until the gel dries. Keep a handle on hands. Keep hands away from t...
Source: Red Cross Chat - Category: Global & Universal Authors: Tags: Preparedness #abcDrBchat ABC News Twitter Chat Enterovirus Source Type: news