Michigan officials announced Saturday that a 21-month-old girl was the first person in the state to perish from the virus that had caused an outbreak of an acute respiratory disease across the United States.

On Friday afternoon, Madeline Reid died from enterovirus D68, according to the Children's Hospital of Michigan in Detroit. Dr Rudolph Valentini, the hospital's chief medical officer, said in a statement that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the disease after the girl from Clinton Township arrived. The day when the toddler arrived was not disclosed.

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"It is never easy to lose a child, and our entire health care team at the Children's Hospital of Michigan is deeply saddened by this family's loss and mourns with them during this very difficult time," Valentini said.

In the previous week, a 4-year-old boy was confirmed by a New Jersey state medical examiner to have died of the virus, and the CDC said that although five people that were infected by the virus died, the role of the virus in those cases have not yet been clarified. The agency said in a press release in the week that the disease has affected 691 people across 46 states and in Washington D.C.

Respiratory problems and flu-like symptoms are caused by enterovirus D68. It can be spread by the airborne spray produced through coughing and sneezing, as well as contact with surfaces contaminated with the virus. As of the moment, there is no specific treatment for the patients and there is no vaccine to prevent contracting the disease.

Earlier on Oct. 1, a child in the northeastern state of Rhode Island was the first to die from the virus. Enterovirus D68, along with a staphylococus infection, caused the child's demise.

"Infection by both Staphylococcus aureus sepsis and EV-D68 is a very rare combination that can cause very severe illness in children and adults," the Rhode Island Department of Health said in a statement.

TagsEnterovirus D68, Madeline Reid, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Flu-like symptoms, Respiratory problems