State health officials say a respiratory virus affecting children around the country has been confirmed throughout New York state.

Health Commissioner Howard Zucker says Wednesday that precautions should be taken to prevent infection in children, especially those with asthma or other respiratory problems. Precautions include hand-washing, disinfecting toys and surfaces, and avoiding close contact or sharing eating utensils with sick people.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that from mid-August through Tuesday there have been 213 lab-confirmed cases of enterovirus D68 in 30 states. The virus primarily affects young children because they haven’t developed immunity by previous exposure.

The virus causes mild to severe illness, with the worst cases needing life support for breathing difficulties. Health officials say enteroviruses are common but this strain is rarely seen.

(AP)