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Yonkers Schools Take Action After Child Is Diagnosed With Enterovirus

YONKERS, N.Y. -- Yonkers Public Schools has confirmed that one of its students at Cedar Place Elementary School has contracted the enterovirus-D68, also known as EV-D68.

Cedar Place Elementary School in Yonkers

Cedar Place Elementary School in Yonkers

Photo Credit: Dina Grace Zoe Sciortino

Jeri Fierstein, a spokesperson for the school district, said the Yonkers Public Schools became aware of the situation over the weekend and scrubbed their schools before students arrived on Monday.

“The district took immediate action and the superintendent directed the custodial staff to do a more thorough cleaning of the classroom the child was in, and in the school's common areas,” said Fierstein.

“We normally do a thorough cleaning every week, but we paid more attention to these areas.”

Yonkers Superintendent of Schools  Michael Yazurlo visited Cedar Place Elementary School on Monday and also met with parents and school staff to stress the importance of hygiene and illness prevention measures.

“What’s most important is that if your child has a fever or is ill, and the State Health Department supports this, is to keep your child home,” said Fierstein.

According to the Centers for Disease Control millions of children catch different strains of enteroviruses each year. EV-D68 is one of more than 100 non-polio enterovirus' and was first identified in 1962.

Infections that occur with enteroviruses are common during the summer and fall. Most of the cases found around the country, have occurred in children. Children and teens are at an increased risk for catching infections from enteroviruses, because their bodies lack the proper immunity to fight them off.

Those with existing respiratory conditions, like asthma, are at an even greater risk for contracting a severe respiratory illness from EV-D68.

Symptoms of EV-D68 are like that of the common cold or flu and include: fever, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, body and muscle aches, wheezing and difficulty breathing. 

More than 20 children were sick with enterovirus at the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital of Westchester Medical Center earlier this month. LoHud.com reports that half of these students have existing asthma conditions.

The CDC states that there have been a total of 938 cases of respiratory illness in 46 states since mid-August due to EV-D68. The CDC reports that EV-D68 has been discovered in specimens from seven individuals who recently died.

The Yonkers student is reportedly being kept home and recovering. Fierstein said the district’s website has displayed information about EV-D68 on its homepage since September, and that a letter went out to families in the district reminding them how to recognize the virus and prevent its spread last week.

 

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