Medical Experts: Serious Respiratory Illness Could Stretch To California This Season

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A respiratory illness affecting children across the country has parents concerned the serious virus could spread to California.

Intensive care units in hospitals across the country as being filled with children suffering from the enterovirus. Symptoms include coughing, difficulty breathing, a possible rash, fever and wheezing.

Medical experts say the illness hasn't turned up in Northern California yet, but it will likely reach the region this season.

Richard Mejia and his family are concerned the serious virus could spread here.

"They need to find a way to cure that because that's horrible when it comes to kids," he said.

Will Cornejo, 13, of Colorado is thankful he feels better than he did just a day earlier.

"Yesterday I felt like I couldn't breathe at all," he said.

He's still on oxygen in intensive care.

His parents are part of just one family of many dealing with the respiratory virus that has sent hundreds of children to hospitals. Ten states have already contacted the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention asking for help investigating the enterovirus.

The disease can be deadly, especially in kids with just mild asthma.