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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Health officials say two hospitals in Ohio have confirmed cases of an uncommon virus causing severe respiratory illness for children in about two dozen states.
Columbus Public Health says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the germ, enterovirus 68, in samples from Nationwide Children's Hospital.
An Ohio Public Health spokeswoman also says at least one sample from Akron Children's Hospital tested positive for the germ.
The Ohio Department of Health says the state has seen increased respiratory illness cases, especially in children. Samples also have been sent to the CDC from hospitals in Chillicothe (chihl-ih-KAHTH'-ee), Cincinnati, Cleveland, Coldwater, Dayton, Gallipolis, Lima (LY'-muh) and Sandusky.
The virus can cause coldlike symptoms. It's an uncommon strain of a common family of viruses that typically hit from summertime through the fall.
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