Although more than a thousand cases were identified in 49 states, experts from the Aurora, Colo.-based pediatric hospital believe the lack of a widely available EV-D68 test could mean the real number of cases is much larger than previously realized.
To determine the true effect of the virus outbreak, the researchers analyzed the change in hospital resources utilized during the outbreak periods and compared the data to what would have been expected during a calm respiratory season.
They identified considerable spikes in respiratory patient volumes, asthma medication use, respiratory equipment use and respiratory therapist demands during the 2014 EV-D68 outbreak.
“The enterovirus D68 outbreak affected every aspect of our hospital,” said lead author Kevin Messacar, MD. “We created an EV-D68 consortium to look at how this outbreak strained resources. Through this study, we demonstrated that the number of confirmed infections grossly underestimates the true burden of this outbreak on children’s hospitals.”
The findings highlight the importance of monitoring resource utilization during outbreaks of emerging pathogens.
More articles on enterovirus:
CDC announces $110M fund to help states prep for infectious diseases
Mysterious polio-like virus continues to stump physicians
Research finds potential treatment for enterovirus D68
