(NaturalNews) Parents and medical professionals in Ohio are baffled after an abnormally large number of respiratory illnesses began rippling through the state, packing the emergency room full at the Nationwide Children's Hospital. The hospital's head doctors have already requested that virus samples be sent out to specialists to pinpoint the kind of outbreak the hospital is dealing with. Could it be a rare opportunistic virus or a new and emerging virus strain?

In the last week of August, Nationwide Children's Hospital was flooded with an average of 52 patients a day. As September began, doctors recognized that the respiratory virus was exploding in incidence. For three days, the emergency room took in 73 patients per day on average, as the hospital took on a 40 percent increase in patients. According to the medical director at Columbus Public Health, the spike in respiratory cases comes at the most unusual time of the year but is likely exacerbated by all the children heading back to public school.

Ohio isn't alone in dealing with the strange uptick in respiratory infections. Children's hospitals in at least 10 states are now calling on the CDC to identify the cause of this respiratory illness that knows no boundaries. The concerned states include Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Iowa, Ohio, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Georgia and Colorado.

Children's Hospital Colorado has reportedly treated 900 severe childhood respiratory cases since August 18. The CDC believes that the respiratory illnesses are caused by human enterovirus 68, first isolated in California in 1962.

Health officials says there's nothing great you can do to prepare, but experience says otherwise

In educating the public about preventive measures, health officials at Columbus Public Health have stated the obvious, reiterating common sense prevention measures. Of course it's good to wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds after leaving the restroom. It's also smart to disinfect surfaces that are regularly touched by the public, especially doorknobs and toys. It's also common sense to avoid sharing utensils and shaking hands with those who are sick.

During times when viruses are spreading out of control, health officials and experts at the CDC fail to mention that there are powerful ways for individuals to boost their own immune systems, before or during a viral infection. During these times of viral outbreak, it's not best to just take a back seat and hope that the medical system will take care of you.

Some very powerful methods for combating viral and bacterial infections come from personal experience, and can effectively ease the body through recovery, speeding up the healing process, which can be done in 24-48 hours.

Here are just three antiviral substances that can empower individuals before or during a viral outbreak:

Amalaki berry, or Indian gooseberry, is a bittersweet, potent source of vitamin C that goes to work fast in the body. Pound for pound, amalaki contains 20 times more vitamin C than oranges. As a powder, dried amalaki berry can be taken in water, providing bioflavonoids, polyphenols, iron, potassium, cytokinins, B vitamins, tannins and pectin to the cells, providing a powerful immune system boost.

Goldenseal root, containing a strong concentration of berberine, is antiparasitic, antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral. In test tubes, berberine kills Candida fungus and tape worms. It also kills the bacteria in urinary tract infections and the kind associated with ulcers. As an extract, goldenseal root powers the immune system in more ways than one, strengthening white blood cell count.

Echinacea purpurea, or purple coneflower, is a medicinal botanical that can be grown at home and harvested before cold and flu season as an easy and effective prevention method against bacterial and viral infections. By stimulating phagocytosis (the consumption of invading organisms by white blood cells and lymphocytes), Echinacea wards away pathogens by boosting natural immune response.

What's exciting is that these naturally produced medicines are only the tip of the iceberg for treating viral and bacterial infections. Countless other herbs, berries and roots can be used alongside these to combat virus and bacteria outbreaks. Elderberries work great, as does Eleutherococcus root, which increases energy and stamina for fighting off infections. For specific treatment of respiratory infections, herbs like yarrow extract, eucalyptus oil, burdock root and lobelia tea can open up airways, soothe inflamed tissues, and push out bacteria and viruses, fast, right at home.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.dispatch.com

http://www.foxnews.com

http://www.positivehealth.com

http://umm.edu

http://science.naturalnews.com