Serious Respiratory Illness Possibly In Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Health officials say a severe respiratory illness that has sickened hundreds of children has possibly reached Indiana.

The Indiana State Department of Health reported Monday that laboratory results show three people in northern Indiana recently tested positive for a virus similar to the germ that causes the common cold. It says more testing is needed to determine if it's the same enterovirus causing the outbreak confirmed in Missouri and Illinois and suspected in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and other states.

The health department also says Indiana hospitals statewide are reporting an increase in the number of patients with respiratory illnesses, especially among children.

Enteroviruses are very common, with 10 million to 15 million cases occurring in the U.S. annually.