After weeks of testing specimens from Maryland children hospitalized with severe respiratory illnesses, state doctors say the enterovirus D68 strain was identified Wednesday in one child, but officials say the strain is most likely in sick kids statewide.

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Maryland health officials confirmed on Wednesday the presence of enterovirus D68 in the state, but they said people shouldn't panic.Enterovirus D68 is particularly harmful to children and has spread to more than two dozen states in the U.S. In some patients, especially children with asthma, the strain causes shortness of breath and wheezing that won't stop.Mobile users, tap here for videoHealth officials said the virus was identified in a specimen collected from a hospitalized child in suburban Maryland and was sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation."Now that this virus is known to be in Maryland, it is important that we all take reasonable steps to limit its spread and control its impact," state Health Secretary Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein said.Doctors said the enterovirus is common, much like a cold. There is no specific test for the D68 strain, but suspected cases have hospitalized dozens of children in 30 states since the summer. "Most of the time, specific tests for D68 would be done at a public health laboratory or a research laboratory or at the CDC," said Dr. Lucy Wilson of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.She said that's why it took Maryland weeks to confirm the first case.The CDC has no system in place to collect enterovirus D68 data because it's not considered an infectious disease that needs to be controlled immediately on a national level. The CDC is encouraging health care providers to report clusters of people with severe respiratory illnesses to their local Health Departments, but there is no state requirement for hospitals to do so.Parents asked to be vigilant for symptoms"We know it's respiratory and virus season, so we are going to see these illnesses, but we are asking people to be more alert and to look for signs of distress," Wilson said.If a patient is wheezing, the wheezing symptoms can be treated; if a patient is having difficulty breathing, respiratory support and oxygen can be given.Health experts said people should not panic or focus on whether their kids have D68. They should instead focus on identifying and managing the symptoms of respiratory infections, because that's what's important."Get your symptoms treated. The testing won't change the treatment. The doctors will treat you the same, whether you have a positive test or a negative test, because they are treating the symptoms to make you better. That's the good news," Wilson said.Health officials said parents should step up their vigilance. The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is recommending that families:Practice preventive steps, as with other ailments, by regularly washing hands with soap and water.Provide special attention to children with asthma.Be alert to wheezing and other respiratory ailments in children.Keep sick children at home.Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.Cough and sneeze into sleeve or a tissue.Avoid kissing, hugging and sharing cups, eating utensils, etc. with people who are sick.Disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs, especially if someone is sick.Stay up-to-date on vaccinations, especially influenza vaccine, to reduce respiratory illness.Enterovirus is one of many viruses that can cause respiratory illness, and there are more than 100 types of enteroviruses that affect humans, causing between 10 million and 15 million illnesses per year. Most people with enteroviruses have no symptoms or only mild symptoms, but some infections can be serious. EV-D68 infections are believed to occur less often than other enterovirus infections. After 11 News' story about a Rosedale family's experience with D68 aired Tuesday night, dozens of viewers emailed the newsroom and commented on the WBAL-TV Facebook page with similar stories and suspicions about their sick children.11 News reporter George Lettis contributed to this article