Possible Human Enterovirus 68 (HEV68) that put hundreds of American children in hospitals in the Midwest has no vaccine, experts stated.

Though not yet confirmed, experts believe that the respiratory virus that hit over 900 children in Georgia, Ohio, Colorado, North Carolina, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Missouri, and Kentucky may be the rare Human Enterovirus 68 that has symptoms similar to those of the common cold.

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Although entoviruses are not very uncommon, HEV68, which is also known as EV68 or EV-D68, is a rare kind of virus that may also target the human central nervous system.

This kind of enterovirus, in some cases, may cause paralysis or, in worse cases, even death.

The disheartening news is that this kind of virus has no known vaccine, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

The Missouri agency also explained that the HEV68 has no specific treatment. Patients with the disease are usually given treatments for the symptoms, especially in mild cases.

Symptoms include coughing, sneezing, and difficulty breathing, like the common colds that can be caught by anyone.

However, experts warned that symptoms such as fever and wheezing are signs that the patient is not suffering from just the common cold.

"Some people with several respiratory illness caused by EV-D68 may need to be hospitalized and receive intensive supportive therapy," the agency stated.

On the other hand, specialists have yet to confirm if the virus caught by children and teenagers in the ten states of the U.S. is really the HEV68.

As of the moment, reports indicate that youngsters with asthma and those below five years of age are seen to be prone to the virus.

To stem the spread of the virus, several hospitals in the virus-stricken states have banned children aged 12 years and below from visiting with patients.

Enteroviruses are commonly at their peak during the summer, especially in September.

TagsHuman Enterovirus 68, U.S., outbreak, Virus, Midwest America, vaccine, cure, cold, enterovirus