dr. bandwell is chief of neurology at the children's hospital.

dr. bandwell says it shows inflammation in the gray matter that controls movement, it's possible that enteroirus caused the problem, tests are send to the cdc to see if the children have the d 68 strain that, is the strain that they say claimed the life of eli waller. other factors may have been involved. there is no specific treatment for entero virus d 68, but any child with wheezing or difficultly breathing needs to do to hospital or weakness to the limbs or face also needs to be seen right away. parents should encourage frequent hand washing. >> the a good way to protect your kids from respiratory infections and to keep them from spreading respiratory infections to others. >> all kids over 6 months old should get a flu shot, it won't protect against entero virus d 68, giving parents one less virus to worry about. >> at least one urgent care center saw one case of the flu. keep sick kids home away from others. as for entero virus, we typically see them in the summer and fall, the number of cases usually drop around late fall, we hope that this happens again this year. rick? >> all right a

dr. bandwell is chief of neurology at the children's hospital. she says what they've reported to the c.d.c., three children with sudden muscle weakness to one or more littles with changes in the spine is concerning. >> we may normally see three to eight children over the course of 12 months. to see three in a short timeframe is unusual and that's what the other centers are seeing as well. >> other centers are also seeing mri images like this one. >> this is bigger than it should be. it is swollen. >> the doctor points out inflorida may go in the gray matter of the spinal cord, the area that controls movement. the question, is enterovirus d68 to blame? the virus seen in more than 40 states and linked to four deaths. 11 year old brian from dallas, texas was healthy and now can barely speak, unable to lift his right arm. he tested positive for an enterovirus virus. we don't know yet if it is the d68 strain. dr. banwell says we don't know yet if the children will regain their strength. >> i think the long-term outcome for these patients is still very

dr. brenda bandwell is head of neurology at children's hospital in philadelphia. she says the three children who are experiencing acute muscle weakness are showing the same specific abnormality on their spinal cord. it's different, unique and it's a concern. what's causing it, they're testing to see if it's linked to the enterovirus d68. it's a virus that normally gives children flu-like respiratory problems. >> when this grouping of patients with acute muscle weakness began t b

dr. brenda bandwell says that's note worth for two reasons. >> one we're seeing a number of these children in a very short time frame. that's unusual. and notable. and the second is the involvement specifically of this gray matter. >> gray matter on the spinal cord is very rare and it can cause muscle weakness in the limbs. perhaps most concerning -- >> it has been seen with other viral infections so therefore it obviously prompts a search to see whether there's virus causing this presentation. >> reporter: the big question, is it a virus? d68 in particular that's causing the muscle weakness. the sound of rushing water suggests parents are take nothing chances. >> it's one of those things it's a constant reminder to make sure you have the necessary hand sanitizers around all over the place. making sure you remind them you got to wash your hands after everything you do. >> reporter: doctors here are now running tests on those three young patients with the muscle weakness to figure out whether they in fact had or have the d68 virus. it's believed preliminarily that one of the patients did in

dr. brenda bandwell says that's noteworthy for two reasons. >> one we're seeing a number of these children short time frame. that's unusual and notable and the second the involvement specifically of this gray matt matter. >> great matter on the spinal cord is very rare and it can cause muscle weakness in the limbs. perhaps most concerning -- >> it has been seen with other viral infections so therefore it obviously prompts a search to see whether there's virus causing this presentation. >> reporter: the big question, is it a virus d68 is particular causing the muscle wee weakness. the sound of rushing water suggests parents are taking no chances. >> it's one of those things it's a constant row minder to make sure you have the necessary hand sanitizers around all over the place. making sure you remind them you got to wash your hands after everything you do. >> reporter: doctors at chop are now testing those three young patients with the muscle weakness to find out whether they had or have the d68 virus. final results are due back in about a week. parents both in our area and around the count

dr. brenda bandwell is head of neurology at children's hospital in philadelphia. she says the three children who are experiencing acute muscle weakness are showing the same specific abnormality on their spinal cord. it's different, unique and it's a concern. what's causing it, they're testing to see if it's linked to the enterovirus d68. it's a virus that normally gives children flu-like respiratory problems. >> when this grouping of patients with acute muscle weakness began to be noticed across the country, the logical first thing to look for was, well, we have an enterovirus d68 cluster of patients that people are noting. is there any relationship between that infection and acute muscle weakness? >> reporter: in some parts of country it looks like there is a relationship but the cdc isn't sure. that's why they're asking hospitals like c.h.o.p. to report all cases of acute muscle weakness for testing. and, again, the most important thing for you to know as a parent, if your child experiences sudden acute muscle weakness in one limb or in the face, you should call