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BACKGROUND: On September 8, 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published Severe Respiratory Illness Associated with Enterovirus D68 — Missouri and Illinois, 2014 which described clusters of severe respiratory infection due to enterovirus D-68 in children the mid-West. Immediately following the publication of this article, providers in Pennsylvania sought diagnostic testing and recommendations for clinical care from the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PA DOH).
METHODS: Since infection with enterovirus is not a reportable condition in Pennsylvania, case information was ascertained from data included with laboratory submissions to the state’s public health laboratory and entered into PA Laboratory Information Management System (PA LIMS). Data was retrieved from PA LIMS and analyzed Microsoft Excel and SAS; geographic distribution was analyzed using ArcGIS.
RESULTS: Between September 8, 2014 and 12/31/2014, approximately 134 specimens from 126 patients were submitted to the PA DOH Laboratory for analysis of suspected enterovirus D-68 infection. Enterovirus was detected in 39% of the patients with suspected infection. Although cases were identified in each of the six public health regions in the Commonwealth, the majority of cases (43%) were found in the southeastern part of the state which includes Philadelphia. Cases were predominantly male (48%) and the median age was 4 years (range 3 months to 33 years). Specimen collection date, used as an approximation for onset date, showed the majority of cases (~67%) occurring between September 8 and September 23. No fatalities were reported in Pennsylvania.
CONCLUSIONS: Pennsylvania’s 2014 experience with enterovirus D-68 infections mirrors that found in numerous states. The PA DOH responded quickly to concerns raised by not only providers, but also parents concerned about infection in their children.