A toddler from Michigan died last Friday apparently from Enterovirus D68. This serious respiratory disease is spreading like wildfire across the U.S., said health officials Saturday.

The 21-month old baby named Madeleine Reid struggled for her life from mid-September and was placed on life support. She was transferred from the Detroit Medical Center to the Children's Hospital of Michigan on September 21.

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Enterovirus D68 has spread to 45 states in the continental U.S. and it poses deadly health risks, especially to young children.

According to Dr. Rudolph Valentini, chief medical officer at the Children's Hospital of Michigan, the whole hospital staff condoles with the Reid family during this difficult time. The family requested privacy and asks others to respect their time for mourning.

A New Jersey state medical examiner said a four year old boy died from the virus. The U.S. Centers for Diesease Control and Prevention or CDC said five people infected with the disease have died. The virus has infected 691 people in 46 U.S. states.

This deadly virus has similar symptoms to the common flu and other respiratory problems. It can be transmitted via coughing, sneezing and touching contaminated surfaces. To date, there is no existing vaccine or treatment for the virus.

U.S. doctors are in a race to control and find a cure for the disease. They said it's pivotal to recognize early symptoms so an outbreak can be prevented.

A team of researchers from the University of Michigan are developing a web based tracking system that will further help combat virus outbreaks. They will present this system to the American Academy of Pediatrics national conference this week.

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