A western Massachusetts hospital reported Thursday it has seen an increase in children coming to the emergency room with symptoms consistent with a virus that has swept through the Midwest.
Seven children are currently hospitalized at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield for a respiratory illness. There are no confirmed cases of the enterovirus. Test results are expected from the Centers For Disease Control in about a week. Infectious disease specialist at Baystate, Dr. Michael Klatte, said most children who get infected will not require hospitalization.
"In the small number of patients we have seen who have been admitted to the hospital they are relatively ill requiring a high amount of oxygen support. However, even those ill individuals seem to rapidly improve."
The enterovirus has been confirmed in 16 states.
