Dangerous Respiratory Virus Spreading Quickly Among Children [Video]

Thousands of kids across 10 states have fallen ill with a dangerous respiratory virus, and health professionals worry that this is just the beginning.

The disease hasn't been officially identified but officials suspect a rare respiratory virus called human enterovirus 68. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the virus is related to the rhinovirus, which causes the common cold.

Symptoms include fever, body and muscles aches, sneezing, coughing and rash, CNN reported. The map of the outbreak shows that the virus is mostly prominent in the Midwest.

If this virus moves as quickly as some experts are predicting, it will be in Michigan in no time.  There are some safety precautions that we can take though to keep our kids safe.

The most effective thing that we can do is make sure our kids are washing their hands often.  Not just running water over them, but actually washing them correctly.

Luckily no deaths have been reported due to this outbreak, but it has definitely disrupted the lives of many kids returning to school.

SOURCES: Daily Mail / ABC / CNN