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Official: Enterovirus D68 Virus Caused NJ Boy's Death

By Molly Daly, Matt Rivers 

HAMILTON TWP., N.J. (CBS) - It's official. Authorities in New Jersey say that a four-year-old Hamilton Township, Mercer County boy died of the virus that's sickened hundreds of people -- mostly children -- in 43 states.

At a Saturday afternoon news conference, Hamilton Township Mayor Kelly Yaede made the announcement that nobody wanted to hear:

"A little boy attending Hamilton Township Schools indeed passed and the cause of death was Enterovirus-D68."

That child was Eli Waller. Township health officer Jeffrey Plunkett says Mercer County Medical Examiner Rafaat Ahmad determined the cause of death and informed officials in a conference call Saturday morning.

Plunkett says the biggest concern is how quickly Enterovirus-D68 struck little Eli:

"When he was put to bed that evening, he was asymptomatic, he was fine."

Eli Waller never woke up. Since he died over a week ago, officials havent been able to say if the virus was the cause of death, until now.

As for how he got sick it's almost impossible to tell.

The CDC is now investigating another possible case in another child that attends the same school as Eli, but is in a different class.

That child got sick at the same time Eli did, was omitted to the hospital and has since recovered, although has not returned to school yet.

For now, the school district says its facilities are clean and things are safe.

Plunkett urges parents and the community to be vigilant about their and their kids' personal hygiene -- to cough or sneeze into tissues, or the crook of the arm, and if they're feeling ill, to refrain from hugging and kissing.

Health officials say they will be holding another public meeting Sunday night at 7 p.m. at Steinert High School in Hamilton Township to address any additional questions or concerns people may have.

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