News Anchor’s Daughter Recovers from Enterovirus
The daughter of local news anchor Paula Lopez became the first confirmed case of Enterovirus D68 in Santa Barbara County this week.
Alana Ochoa turns 16 next week, and is a junior at Santa Barbara High School. She went to the doctor a few weeks ago gasping for breath. Alana has asthma, but the symptoms she suffered at the time were much worse.
“It was a sharpness in my chest, it was painful, it was worse than asthma,” she said.
While in the doctor’s office with her daughter, KCOY/KKFX news anchor Paula Lopez Ochoa had just read a news report about enterovirus. Lopez and Alana’s doctor agreed the test for enterovirus was important, because Alana’s symptoms were so severe. Those results came back Friday, confirming the teen as the first case in the county.
Lopez said her daughter’s case is an example of why parents must be vigilant with their children. “Use your gut Mom instincts,” Lopez said.
Alana’s doctor prescribed strong steroids, and she has now made a full recovery. On Friday, Alana was back at Santa Barbara High School, rehearsing and singing for her part in the school’s upcoming play “Big Fish.”
Seven other possible cases of enterovirus are being monitored by Santa Barbara County Health workers.
“It is important to know it is circulating in our community,” said County Health Manager Paige Batson.
Batson said the others being watched include three babies under the age of one, two children under the age of five, and two adults over the age of 65. Test results can take from seven days to three weeks.
There are many forms of enterovirus but the EV-D68 version attacks the respiratory system and can cause difficulty breathing, in rare cases, death.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website shows EV-D68 levels are elevated right now throughout California, but that infections will likely begin to decline by late fall.
Many of the children impacted have asthma or a history of wheezing.
The CDC has documented eight deaths related to EV-D68.
