Man dies from enterovirus as B.C. cases double in one week
VANCOUVER — B.C. health officials confirmed Friday that a man has died from enterovirus-D68 in the province, making it the first known fatality in Canada from this particular strain of the virus.
And the number of labconfirmed cases of “EV-D68” in the province has doubled in a week to 36, said Dr. Danuta Skowronski, epidemiology lead for influenza and emerging respiratory pathogens with the BC Centre for Disease Control.
The man who died was between 20 and 25 years old and had a prior history of asthma, Skowronski said during a Friday conference call.
The death happened earlier this week and followed a rapid escalation of respiratory problems.
“This is a tragic loss for the family and our heartfelt condolences go out to them,” she said.
It is the first known death in Canada from the virus. The man’s name has not been revealed and his family requested privacy, Skowronski told a local news radio station.
There have been seven U.S. deaths this year associated with this strain of the virus. Before 2014, there were three known fatalities linked to EV-D68 — one in Japan in 2010 and two in the Philippines in 2008.
EV-D68 is a virus that can cause severe breathing problems in children, but in most people will manifest as a mild cold. In younger children, it can lead to coughing, wheezing, dehydration and loss of appetite.
The virus is spread through direct contact — such as shared drinks, or coughs and sneezes — so officials say the best protection is regular hand-washing and teaching kids to cover their mouth with their arm when they cough.
Enteroviruses are not reportable in Canada or the U.S., so Skowronski said it’s possible the enterovirus has contributed to, or been associated with, other deaths. “With our improved laboratory techniques for diagnoses, including molecular diagnostic tools like sequencing, we have enhanced our ability to determine specific viruses and types,” she said.
There is no vaccine for EV-D68 and no specific antiviral drug or treatment.