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Virus Outbreak In Western Illinois Affecting Children

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A Quincy hospital and one across the Mississippi River in Missouri are restricting visitors because of an apparent respiratory virus outbreak that largely affects children.  

The Quincy Herald-Whig (http://bit.ly/1lwGCsi) says Quincy's Blessing Hospital is restricting anyone under 12 years of age from visiting there until further notice to help guard against spreading the virus. Such restrictions at Missouri's Hannibal Regional Hospital apply to children 16 years old or younger.  

Still unidentified, the contagious virus contagious can lead to various cold-like symptoms or breathing difficulties.  

This restriction also applies to visitors of all ages showing any of the symptoms such as fever, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, mouth blisters, body and muscle aches or rash.  

Blessing Hospital says more than 70 children displaying breathing difficulties were brought there over Labor Day weekend.

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