Tulsa Doctors Believe They've Seen Enterovirus Patients

The Enterovirus is now confirmed in Oklahoma. The Center for Disease Control said there are seven cases across the state.

Some health officials at St. Francis believe they've treated patients with the disease.

There are many strains of the Enterovirus, but this new one affects mostly children, and can make it difficult for them to breathe.

Will Cornejo is one of hundreds of children infected with the virus.

“I was really scared, I remember thinking I was going to die,” he said.

“He was white as a ghost, his lips were blue, he was completely unconscious,” said Will's mother, Jennifer Cornejo. “We weren't sure he was going to make it."

Test results from the CDC are back, and Oklahoma is one of 11 states, including Kansas, Missouri and Colorado, with confirmed cases of Enterovirus D-68.

9/16/2014 Related Story: CDC Confirms Cases Of Enterovirus D68 In Oklahoma

St. Francis Pediatric Infectious Doctor Michael Chang said kids of all ages - newborns to teens - are being hospitalized for respiratory problems.

"We've definitely had more patients in the hospital than we would typically have,” Chang said. "Part of the problem, we think, is because it's an outbreak of a new virus that kids and younger patients haven't developed immunity to it."

Chang said the Enterovirus is a big family of viruses responsible for most common colds, but this new strain includes mild cold-like symptoms, and breathing trouble.

"Seems to be more wheezing involved, so in patients that have not had asthma before, we're seeing more diagnoses of asthma,” said Chang.

Health officials said the virus spread with the start of school.

Experts encourage hand washing and disinfecting common surfaces.

If your child is wheezing or has trouble breathing, go to a doctor sooner than later.

The virus usually lasts about a week. It has landed some patients in the ICU, but no one has died from the virus.