(Del.)- Doctors are trying to figure out what twelve children in Delaware are suffering from after being hospitalized with a respiratory illness.
State health officials says further tests are needed to determine whether this illness was caused by Human Enterovirus 68.
One child is from Sussex County, one from Kent County and ten from New Castle County.
Enterovirus has plagued much of the country, sending thousands of people to the hospital, mostly children.
State officials say the virus is spread person-to-person when an infected person coughs, sneezes or touches contaminated surfaces.
Here are some tips to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses from the Delaware Division of Public Health:
* Wash hands with soap and water frequently for 20 seconds, especially after changing diapers.
* Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, especially after you cough or sneeze.
* Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and dispose of the tissue immediately. If a tissue is not available, cough or sneeze into your inner elbow. Droplets from a sneeze can travel up to six feet.
* Stay home from work or school when sick and do not return until 24 hours after a fever is gone.
* Avoid kissing, hugging, and sharing cups or eating utensils with people who are sick.
* Disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs, especially if someone is sick.
* Contact your health care provider if you have any concerns.
* Get your annual influenza vaccine to protect yourself from influenza, which is the most common virus causing severe respiratory illness. (At this time, there is no vaccine against EV-D68 infection and it is generally an uncommon virus except during outbreaks.)