The Atchison County Community School District is warning parents to be on the lookout for Enterovirus D68.

In a release sent out to parents Tuesday afternoon the district is asking the community to be proactive to prevent an outbreak of the virus which can cause severe respiratory illness, especially in children with a history of asthma or other respiratory diseases.

“We have only seen a few cases of this virus in the surrounding community and by no means are we experiencing an outbreak situation,” USD 377 school nurse Tenille Forbes said in the release.

Parents are being asked to use make sure standard precautions are used to help avoid infection including frequent hand washing, avoiding contact with those who are sick, and covering up one’s cough.

The school is taking precautions after news reports from Children’s Mercy Hospital show an increase in activity of Enterovirus D68.

Signs and symptoms of the virus include cough, difficulty breathing, new-onset wheezing and asthma exacerbation.

If a child is diagnosed with the virus parents should contact their school nurse to let them know of the infection.