A respiratory virus is sending hundreds of children to hospitals throughout the Midwest and beyond, health officials say. The unusually high number of hospitalizations reported could be "just the tip of the iceberg in terms of severe cases," said Mark Pallansch, a virologist and director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Viral Diseases. Twelve states have contacted the CDC for assistance in investigating clusters of enterovirus: Alabama, Colorado, Michigan, Georgia, Ohio, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Kentucky and Utah. Four -- Colorado, Illinois, Missouri and Iowa -- have confirmed cases of Enterovirus D68, also known as EV-D68.
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Iowa, Colorado, Missouri and Illinois have confirmed EV-D68 cases
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Missouri doctor calls situation "unprecedented" in terms of kids in intensive care
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About 475 children were recently treated at one Kansas City hospital
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Enterovirus EV-D68 causes respiratory illnesses like a cold, only worse
"Unlike the majority of enteroviruses that cause a clinical disease manifesting as a mild upper respiratory illness, febrile rash illness, or neurologic illness (such as aseptic meningitis and encephalitis), EV-D68 has been associated almost exclusively with respiratory disease," the @placeholder health agency said.