VANCOUVER - A young man from Metro Vancouver is the first known fatality in Canada linked to the enterovirus D68 infection.
Dr. Danuta Skowronski of the B.C. Centre for Disease Control says the man in his early twenties had a prior history of severe asthma, and it's not known how the virus contributed to his death.
She says the number of lab-confirmed cases of enterovirus in B.C. has doubled to 36 over a week, and two-thirds of those are in men and boys.
Skowronski says because there is no specific vaccine or treatment for the infection, prevention measures include washing hands thoroughly and sneezing or coughing into your elbow.
She also says most people who are infected with enterovirus D68 have common cold-like symptoms, but those with heart and lung conditions or a history of asthma need to be cautious.
The U.S. Center for Disease Control says seven people have died from the same infection this year.