In recent weeks, there has been an increased number of patients with respiratory illnesses that appear to be caused by Enterovirus D68.

American Fork Hospital said it has implemented visitor restrictions to help protect patients in sensitive units at the facility in response to recent Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) activity. 

“The restrictions are focused in the areas where we have really young patients,” said Janet Frank, spokeswoman for Intermountain Healthcare. “What is being seen around the state is that young people are the ones being infected.” 

Still, she said Utah County was not as bad as other parts of the state.

At Intermountain facilities, the restrictions were put into place Friday. The newborn intensive care and pediatrics units will not admit visitors under 14 years old. No more than two visitors will be permitted at a patient’s bedside at a time. In labor and delivery and mother/baby, no visitors under 14 will be permitted unless they are the healthy siblings of the new infant. They must remain in the mother’s room, not wandering the halls or in the waiting rooms on the unit.

These restrictions include the following:

? Level II Nursery and Pediatric Units: No visitors under 14 years of age; limit of 2 visitors per patient room.

? Labor & Delivery and Mother/Baby Units: No visitors under 14 years of age except for healthy siblings who stay in the patient’s room.

There is no specific treatment for Enterovirus D68; treatment focuses on alleviating the symptoms.

“It is not terribly life-threatening,” said Lance Madigan, spokesman for the Utah County Health Department. Nevertheless, he suggested those with asthma or wheezing get help. “Any time somebody has trouble breathing they should seek medical attention,” he said. “It becomes a high risk situation.”

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