Severe respiratory illness striking Denver metro children; more than 900 !! OK CNN decides to report

WE ARE JUST HEARING OF THIS

DENVER - Hospitals across the Denver metro area are on alert for a mystery respiratory illness that can leave children and teenagers with asthma debilitated.

Doctors told 7NEWS they believe the illness is linked to human enterovirus 68, which is related to rhinovirus, which is a cause of the common cold.

Patients often complain of a rapid onset of cold-like symptoms and then suddenly are unable to breathe.

"My head started hurting and after that my lungs started sort of closing up. It felt different," said 13-year-old Will Cornejo, of Lone Tree.

"He was in really bad shape. He came really close to death. He was unconscious at our house and white as a ghost with blue lips -- he just passed out," said Will's mother, Jennifer Cornejo.
[link to www.thedenverchannel.com]

Respiratory virus suspected in Midwest children's hospitalizations

[link to www.cnn.com]