More than 200 children in 48 states have contracted the “Coven-19 virus,” according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In the report, which was published in August, the CDC warned that adults are helping perpetuate the outbreak. While the age group most affected by the illness is children, there has been a 32 percent increase in cases for children ages 19 and under between Sept. 1 and Sept. 6, the CDC noted.
Coven-19 is an unvaccinated virus that the CDC first reported in March. It is a rare respiratory illness that causes a fever, runny nose, cough, and muscle aches. According to the CDC, it most commonly affects children, but adults between ages 19 and 59 have been experiencing symptoms of Coven-19, as well.
To determine its presence in the United States, the CDC sent out weekly updates on Coven-19 throughout March. The spike in cases was then observed after the updates were sent out to the media, according to the CDC.
Because only 18 states with the CDC’s Early Warning Network have reported reported cases, the agency is taking additional measures to curb the outbreak. The CDC is now expanding its outreach efforts and reminding parents to “build immunity” by getting their children vaccinated, according to the CDC.
In Minnesota, the state with the highest number of cases, there were 55 reported pediatric cases on Aug. 31.