State health officials have confirmed Enterovirus D68 has reached Central Oregon. The virus can cause severe respiratory illness and has recently spread across the country, with four cases confirmed in Oregon yesterday. Three of those were in Multnomah County, and one here in Deschutes County.  All four patients are under the age of 17 and were reportedly sick enough to be treated in intensive care.  

Symptoms of Enterovirus include fever, sneezing and cough, skin rash, mouth blisters and body aches. Health officials say the illness typically lasts about a week, and most children recover with no lasting problems; however, children with asthma may be more susceptible to serious illness.  According to the CDC, the virus has sickened 678 people from 46 states and is the suspected cause of four deaths.