Hospitals in Greeley and Loveland have imposed visitor restrictions because of the Colorado outbreak of enterovirus 68, including banning visitors under age 13 and ordering mandatory health screenings for siblings who want to visit newborns.

But while the alarming news reports and a Colorado Health Alert Network advisory of the Human enterovirus 68 has caused many parents and hypochondriacs to fret, local officials say the virus hasn’t hit the Southwest.

Marc Meyer, infection preventionist at Southwest Memorial Hospital, reported that the hospital hasn’t seen signs of the virus. Of course, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t here, but it does mean that nobody has been hospitalized because of it.

Meyer encouraged common sense when it comes to hygiene.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the easiest way to prevent illness is to avoid close contact with people who are sick, stay home when you’re sick, cover your mouth, and nose and wash your hands often.

The human enterovirus 68 has hit the Denver area, which prompted a Health Advisory released to local health officials earlier this month.

“This is an uncommon respiratory viral pathogen,” the advisory stated.

“Clinicians should encourage their pediatric patients with asthma to be vigilant in taking their asthma-controlling medications. Clinicians should also promptly and aggressively begin treatment in patients with asthma who begin to show early signs of symptoms and asthma exacerbation,” the advisory stated.

Susan Ciccia, RN, MSN, at Montezuma-Cortez High School, said last week that she hadn’t seen a rise in respiratory illness at the Cortez schools, at least not any more than usual.

Mark Salley, the Public Information Officer for Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, said the virus is difficult to keep tabs on.

“Unlike measles and whooping cough and West Nile – those are considered reportable conditions – this virus is not a reportable condition by the state, so we don’t have numbers,” Salley said.

The Montezuma County Public Health Department posted a warning on its Facebook page, but has yet to see any cases of the virus in Southwest Colorado.

According to the Montezuma County Public Health Department:

“Testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention laboratory has confirmed 19 of 25 specimens submitted by Children’s Hospital Colorado tested positive for enterovirus D68, an uncommon respiratory virus. Investigation into this outbreak is ongoing, and the department is working with Colorado hospitals and the CDC.”

The illness is characterized by difficulty breathing, difficulty getting enough oxygen and wheezing in some patients. A minority of patients have a fever.

Pediatric patients with asthma should be encouraged to be vigilant in taking their asthma-controlling medications. Treatment should begin promptly and aggressively in patients with asthma who show early signs and symptoms of an asthma exacerbation.

There are no vaccines to prevent the infections.

Patients can help protect themselves from respiratory illnesses by:

Washing hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds.

Avoiding touching their eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoiding kissing, hugging, and sharing cups and eating utensils with people who are sick.

Disinfecting frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs, especially if someone is sick.

Making sure vaccinations, including the influenza vaccine, are up to date.

Dr. Lisa Miller, of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, said that this virus has hit people with asthma hardest.

She asked that anyone who has sudden shortness of breath or asthma that gets worse and can’t be controlled by medication to see their doctors.