Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) joined Hamilton Township Mayor Kelly Yaede and other township and school officials to discuss last night’s news that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) finding that a Hamilton preschooler who died last week has tested positive for Enterovirous D68 (EV-D68). Mayor Yaede also announced that the Mercer County Medical Examiner determined today that EV-D68 was the cause of death.

    Yaede, who with health officials informed the family of the pre-schooler about the test results last night, this afternoon detailed the steps the school has taken to protect other children from the virus.

    “As a community we will rally behind this family,” Yaede said. “Hamilton is here for you. We will help you move forward.” Noting that officials have been working to protect other children, she said, “What’s more important than a child? Nothing is more important.”

    “We have anguish for the family,” said Smith who represents Hamilton and participated in a town meeting at the Yardville Elementary School earlier this week. Noting that there are over 500 cases of EV-D68 illness across the country, Smith reiterated what CDC Director Thomas Frieden stressed to him in discussion they had on the Hamilton case earlier this week: thorough washing of hands and good hygiene, as well as watching for symptoms are the best ways to protecting young children, whose developing immune systems can be more susceptible to the virus than older children and adults. “There is a significant growth in the number of cases. Those who have asthma or other respiratory illnesses are particularly at risk.”

    Township Health Officer Jeff Plunkett noted that a second child in the same grade but a different class at the same school is being tested for EV-D68. That student’s health is improving, he said.

    For more information about protection from EV-D68 including facts from CDC, click here.

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