PARENTS across the Borders are urged to recognise the symptoms of a virus which could leave their children paralysed.

Public Health England have confirmed 38 cases of Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) have been recorded in the UK, with four children in hospital in Scotland.

The virus which has no known cure and has children at most risk, can cause mild to severe respiratory illness requiring ventilation support and can potentially leave children paralysed.

It is spread by droplets, when someone inhales particles of the virus when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and can be spread by touching the contaminated surface that someone with the infection has coughed of sneezed on, then touching the face.

A fever, runny nose, coughing, sneezing and body and muscle aches are some of the mild symptoms. 

More serious cases include wheezing and difficulty breathing. Detection of the virus can be found by a doctor testing saliva and nasal mucus.

Enterovirus D68 has previously been detected in the UK, with seven cases in 2012, three cases in 2013, 56 cases in 2014 and 14 cases in 2015.

In August 2014, the United States of America and Canada reported an increase in detections of EV-D68 associated with cases of severe respiratory illness and cases of unexplained neurological illness.

Of the 38 cases currently confirmed in the UK, these are scattered across the country and the majority were during the spring and summer months. 

Dr Tim Patterson, Director of Public Health from NHS Borders told us: “So far in 2016, 38 cases of laboratory confirmed EV-D68 infection have been diagnosed scattered across the UK. No confirmed cases have occurred in the Borders.

"The virus usually causes a very mild illness during the spring and summer months and it is currently not clear if this increase in numbers represents a change in incidence of the virus, or is primarily due to increased awareness and testing for EV-D68.

"It is important to note that the vast majority of respiratory illness in the UK during winter is due to other seasonal respiratory viruses including the common cold and influenza. The risk to the public health by this particular virus is therefore extremely low.”

Anyone with a respiratory illness should go to their doctor if they are having difficulty breathing or if symptoms get worse.