Report: 10-Year-Old Dies from Enterovirus D68 Complications

October 2, 2014

In a statement released by the Rhode Island Health Department on Wednesday, health officials said that 10-year-old Emily Otrando passed away from a “very rare” combination of a staph infection and Enterovirus D68.

Michael Fine, MD, director of the Rhode Island Department of Health, said in the statement that while many children will contract Enterovirus D68, the vast majority of kids exposed to the virus will recover completely.

Enterovirus D68, which typically lasts a week, starts with symptoms very similar to the common cold, including runny nose, coughing, and wheezing — but it can become severe quickly, leading to difficulty breathing, particularly in children with asthma.

Last week, it was reported that heath officials were investigating the possible association between paralysis and Enterovirus D68.

Vicki Clinebell majored in journalism at the University of Colorado and headed to an advertising agency before beginning a long career in broadcasting, spanning production and copywriting to Sales and Management for an ABC affiliate station.

Her decision to switch gears to pursue a career in writing fulfilled a lifelong ambition. She started as a blogger for a diverse group of businesses, and now writes for a number of digital publications for companies stationed in her hometown in the Rocky Mountains, and provides advertising copy and media buys for national and regional clients. She finds the research as intersting as the writing—she loves learning about subjects as diverse as construction scaffolding, child safety seats, and the newest trends in beauty and fashion.