Story highlights Enterovirus clusters seen in 12 states around the Midwest, Southeast

Six states have confirmed EV-D68 cases

Missouri doctor calls situation "unprecedented" in terms of kids in intensive care

Enterovirus D68 causes respiratory illnesses like a cold, only worse

Respiratory illnesses caused by an enterovirus are sending hundreds of children to hospitals throughout the Midwest and Southeast, health officials say.

Twelve states are reporting clusters of enterovirus illness: Alabama, Colorado, Michigan, Georgia, Ohio, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Kentucky and Utah.

Six of those states -- Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri and Iowa -- have confirmed cases of Enterovirus D68 , also known as EV-D68.

Enteroviruses, which can cause a variety of symptoms, aren't unusual. If you've ever had a bad summer cold, it was likely caused by an enterovirus. The CDC estimates there are 10 to 15 million viral infections each year in the United States. The season often hits its peak in September.

"It's important to remember that these infections are very common," said Dr. Anne Schuchat , assistant surgeon general for the U.S. Public Health Service and the director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

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Photos: Top 8 germiest places in school Photos: Top 8 germiest places in school As millions of children head back to school this month, teachers and parents are dreading the "back-to-school plague." Schools are full of hot zones for germs, Dr. Harley Rotbart says. Here are his top eight. Hide Caption 1 of 9 Photos: Top 8 germiest places in school Bathroom doors – Let's start with the bathroom, which most people assume is a germ haven. Not so, Rotbart says, as most school bathrooms are cleaned regularly. The bathroom door is another story: Not all kids wash their hands like they should, so exiting could be hazardous to your health. Hide Caption 2 of 9 Photos: Top 8 germiest places in school Cafeteria trays – Cafeteria trays rarely get wiped off between meals, Rotbart says. With food and a variety of kids touching them, they can be hosts to some serious germs. Rotbart tells kids to use hand sanitizer after they bring their trays to the table. Hide Caption 3 of 9 Photos: Top 8 germiest places in school Unrefrigerated lunches – Also dangerous? Sack lunches, which "typically spoil before lunchtime," Rotbart says. Pack food that needs to be refrigerated in an insulated lunch box with frozen blue ice packs, and freeze any juice boxes. Doing so will lower the chance of food-borne illnesses. Hide Caption 4 of 9 Photos: Top 8 germiest places in school Desks – Students spend most of the day at their desks. That means any sneezes, coughs or ... nasal leakage ends up all over. Students then touch their desktops and take those germs home to Mom. Hide Caption 5 of 9 Photos: Top 8 germiest places in school Art supplies – Most art classes have kids share supplies like paintbrushes, markers and scissors. Students often touch these and then touch their faces or pass them to other kids. Plus, cleaning art supplies is not a top priority for teachers, Rotbart says. Hide Caption 6 of 9 Photos: Top 8 germiest places in school Sports equipment – Your kids might be passing germs along with those winning touchdowns. Worst of all, Rotbart says, is that football and other sports helmets are a good way to spread lice. Hide Caption 7 of 9 Photos: Top 8 germiest places in school Playground equipment – Germs like to play Ring Around the Rosie on the playground. Any microorganisms on kids' hands get spread to the monkey bars, the slide, the teeter totter, etc. where other children can pick them up. Hide Caption 8 of 9 Photos: Top 8 germiest places in school Drinking fountains – If Rotbart had to pick the No. 1 germiest place in schools, it would be the drinking fountain. Kids put their mouths right on the spout, which is disinfected even less than the bathroom door. It helps to teach your children to keep their mouths off the metal and to let the water run for a second before drinking. Hide Caption 9 of 9

But this particular type of enterovirus -- EV-D68 -- is less common. And health officials are concerned by the number of hospitalizations it has caused this year.

"It's worse in terms of scope of critically ill children who require intensive care. I would call it unprecedented. I've practiced for 30 years in pediatrics, and I've never seen anything quite like this," said Dr. Mary Anne Jackson, division director for infectious diseases at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri.

Staff members noticed an initial spike on August 15, Jackson said.

"It could have taken off right after school started. Our students start back around August 17, and I think it blew up at that point," Jackson said.

Many of the children who are being hospitalized have a history of asthma or wheezing, says Dr. Christine Nyquist, medical director of infection control at Children's Hospital Colorado. EV-D68 seems to exacerbate any breathing problems that aren't under control with medication.

Children's Hospital Colorado has seen a 12% to 15% increase in emergency room visits and admissions this month compared with the same time frame last year, Nyquist said. The hospital sent 25 samples to the CDC from patients with respiratory illness. Around 75% were confirmed to be EV-D68.

On Monday, the CDC confirmed that 11 samples it tested from children who had been hospitalized in Chicago tested positive for EV-D68. Nineteen of the 22 specimens sent to the CDC from Kansas City also showed signs of the virus, meaning there is likely a regional outbreak.

The Iowa Department of Public Health confirmed that EV-D68 cases have been identified in that state. Officials are hearing of illnesses across the state, they say, though there is not a firm count of how many people have been infected.

EV-D68 was first identified in the 1960s, and there have been fewer than 100 reported cases since that time. But it's possible that the relatively low number is due to the fact that the CDC doesn't require health departments to track EV-D68.

"It's one that we don't know as much about as we would like," Schuchat said.

EV-D68 was seen last year in the United States and this year in various parts of the world. Over the years, clusters have been reported in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Arizona and various countries, including the Philippines, Japan and the Netherlands. Health officials don't know why the enterovirus has created such a problem this year.

"That's the scary part -- the unpredictability, I think," Nyquist said.

The unusually high number of hospitalizations reported could be "just the tip of the iceberg in terms of severe cases," said Mark Pallansch, a virologist and director of the CDC's Division of Viral Diseases. As states continue to send samples to the CDC, the public health agency will get a clearer picture of the number of viral infections being caused.

In the meantime, parents should be on the lookout for signs that their child is having difficulty breathing. Other common symptoms of the virus include coughing, fever and rash.

"It's important to make sure your children with asthma are on their medicines and keeping up with their medication routine," Schuchat said.

Like other enteroviruses, EV-D68 appears to spread through close contact with infected people.

To reduce the risk of infection, wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after changing diapers. Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands, and avoid contact with people who are sick. Disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as toys and doorknobs, and stay home when you feeling under the weather to avoid infecting others.