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The Ocean County Health Department is working ahead to track and prevent the spread of Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) that entered New Jersey last week. OCHD Communicable Disease Unit Supervisor Jennifer Crawford said they've established great working partnerships long before this respiratory virus began threatening kids across the country.

"We're definitely staying in touch with the State Health Department, staying up on the latest information coming out from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), We're giving that information also to school nurses, also staying in touch with school nurses, we have surveillance systems in place with our school nurses and our local hospitals, so we're really trying to stay informed as well as keeping our partners informed," said Crawford.

Crawford said EV-D68 starts with mild flu like symptoms, like a runny nose, sneezing and coughing and there may or may not be a fever. However, if a child has difficulty breathing, wheezing or there's a worsening of asthma, she advices parents seek medical attention immediately.

Not to forget there are universal ways to prevent contracting any communicable disease, cold or virus that the Ocean County Health Department provides at its website. For starters, Crawford said parents need to tell their kids to "wash their hands with soap and water, we also need them to stay home when they're not well, not to touch their eyes and stick their fingers in their mouths, good cough etiquette as well, covering their coughs."

Crawford also recommends cleaning and disinfecting touched surfaces and sneeze using tissues then discarding those tissues after use.

On Wednesday September 17th, Health Officials confirmed that a child from New Jersey contracted EV-D68 and was treated at a Philadelphia hospital who is now recovering at home. At last check on Friday September 19th, the CDC confirmed that 160 people contracted EV-D68 around the country in 22 states.

Get more information at the Ocean County Health Department website ochd.org, CDC website cdc.gov or the NJ State Department of Health www.state.nj.us/health/

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