NC officials report 3 more cases of enterovirus

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — State health officials report three more cases of enterovirus D68, raising the total number of cases in North Carolina to nine since late September.

The NC Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the three new cases on Tuesday. An agency statement said the three specimens that tested positive were obtained from children ages 10 and under with respiratory illnesses.

One additional case that meets the criteria established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was detected in the eastern part of the state. DHHS said the patient tested positive for rhinovirus/enterovirus but additional testing is being done.

Enteroviruses are transmitted through close contact with an infected person, or by touching objects or surfaces contaminated with the virus and then touching the mouth, nose or eyes.

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