The CDC said it is testing to see if the virus caused respiratory illnesses reported in children in Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma and Utah.

“I can’t tell you whether this is the same illness as the Midwest epidemic, only that when we see a cluster of either severe or large numbers of illness, or a combination thereof, we are always required to report it to the state Department of Health,” Lennarz said, explaining that specimens have been sent for testing and the results are not available.

“We always see an increased number of viral illnesses of any kind when schools are in session. What distinguishes these cases is the rapidity of the onset,” Lennarz said.

“These children all went from being totally well, to being moderately to severely ill in less than 24 hours. And the severity itself, that is what distinguishes it from the background viral infections that we would always see at this time of year,” he said.

Lennarz said the children at St. Mary’s suspected of having the virus range from 2 to 10 years old.