Mystery respiratory disease spreads to 40 states across USA

(NaturalNews) A healthcare system that relies solely on vaccines to treat and prevent disease is a concept sure to fail. In the wild, viruses continuously mutate, often resulting in the creation of deadly pathogens. Similar to plants, animals and humans, viruses are shaped by natural section, a process that favors an organism's fitness, or its ability to survive.

The best protection against these unfortunate, but natural processes is a healthy, strong immune system, as our bodies can't possibly have a pre-existing immunity to diseases yet to evolve.

Viruses' ever-evolving nature can be quite aggressive, with one virus called "Lambda," developing new ways to attack host cells in just four mutations, according to findings published in the journal Science in 2012.

Scientists say Enterovirus D68 likely evolved from the time it was first discovered in 1962

Enterovirus D68, an illness that's infected hundreds of children in at least 40 states, is no exception. First discovered in California in 1962, D68 is believed to be one of more than 100 non-polio enteroviruses, and has appeared to evolve rapidly.

While adults aren't completely unaffected, D68 primarily infects infants, children and teenagers due to a lack in immunity from previous exposure. Prior to this year, the virus was limited to just 26 cases from the time of its discovery through 2005.

"We speculate that this virus in the past 10 to 15 years has sort of evolved into different subtypes and has allowed it to become more prevalent worldwide," said Rafal Tokarz, a scientist at Columbia University's Center for Infection and Immunity who has studied the spread of Enterovirus 68.

"Maybe it has mutated into something that is more easily transmissible, I don't know if that is the case but it's certainly possible."

Paralysis possibly linked to rare respiratory virus

Mild symptoms of D68 are similar to those of the common cold, including coughing, sneezing, runny nose, fever and muscle aches, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In more severe cases, victims have displayed skin rashes, mouth blisters and severe breathing problems including wheezing, placing people with asthma at an even greater risk.

The CDC is investigating whether or not muscle weakness and paralysis displayed in nine Colorado children is linked to D68. Each had respiratory illness about two weeks prior to experiencing varying degrees of limb weakness, according to reports.

With the latest outbreak first detected in the Midwest in late August, the CDC has now confirmed at least 277 cases spanning from the East to West Coast, according to statistics provided in a report by USA Today.

In the nine Colorado cases that displayed muscle weakness or paralysis, four out of eight children tested positive for D68; the ninth test was inconclusive.

Children's Hospital Colorado in Aurora has treated more than 2,500 kids for severe respiratory illness from mid-August to mid-September, with 19 of 25 specimens from that facility testing positive for D68.

So far, a 10-year old little girl from Rhode Island that was hospitalized for D68 has died. Doctors say she contracted staphylococcus aureus sepsis, a bacterial infection that in combination with the rare virus took her life.

Aside from that case, treatment involving oxygen uptake has proven successful, allowing patients' conditions to turn around rather quickly. No anti-viral medications exist to treat the virus.

In a report by Natural News, the health ranger highlights how D68 has successfully affected vaccinated children, an important fact the dinosaur media has conveniently avoided.

When outbreaks occur among unvaccinated children, the media usually pushes vaccines as the solution. However, since vaccines can't be offered as a solution, the CDC recommends serious hand washing, in other words, they have no idea how to prevent the disease from spreading.

Maintaining a healthy immune system by boosting your vitamin D intake offers the best protection against D68, as well as other harmful infections. Also, keep in mind that avoiding immunosuppressive chemicals and food additives that weaken your infection-fighting abilities can improve your chances of staying healthy.

Learn all these details and more at the FREE online Pandemic Preparedness course at www.BioDefense.com

Sources:

http://news.yahoo.com

http://www.usatoday.com

http://www.cdc.gov/non-polio-enterovirus/about/ev-d68.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com

http://www.naturalnews.com

http://www.historyofvaccines.org

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120126224526.htm