The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed the baffling and rare Enterovirus D68 that sickens children is now present in 22 states. This total may well increase considering the virus' fast advance since being reported in mid-August.

CDC said as of Sept. 19 they had 160 lab-confirmed cases of Enterovirus D68 in 22 states. On Sept. 16, the CDC's count was 130 cases in 12 states.

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The latest states with confirmed Enterovirus D68 are California, Connecticut, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Virginia and Washington.

The virus causes mild to severe illness. The worst cases require life support for breathing difficulties. Kids with asthma have been especially vulnerable to the virus but, fortunately, no deaths have so far been reported.

Symptoms of infection by Enterovirus D68 include difficulty breathing, coughing, wheezing, runny nose and fever in some cases.

If the child's symptoms are mild, doctors advise parents to keep children at home and treat the illness like a cold. If more serious symptoms like a fever and difficulty breathing develop, however, children should immediately be taken to a doctor.

Doctors also encourage parents to vaccinate children for the flu this season.

They said the virus isn't new but it's very rare. Unfortunately, only a few labs in the U.S. can test for the virus

Over 150 children are being treated for possible cases of Enterovirus D68 at Boston Children's Hospital, said officials on Sept. 19. Officials took pains to point out that no cases have been confirmed in Massachusetts as of yet.

Doctors reported a sharp spike in the number of children with respiratory problems. They also said several children suspected with the virus are on life support.

There are 12 children in critical care and 24 in intermediate care, said doctors.

They said the ages of the children range from 2 years old to 10 years old. The number of children being treated is three times higher than what Boston Children's Hospital gets at this time of year.

Baystate Medical Center in Springfield and Massachusetts General Hospital reported suspected cases of Enterovirus D68 earlier this week. Lab samples were sent to the CDC to confirm if the cases are indeed Enterovirus D68.

"Kids who are really working hard to breathe ... those are kids that need to be seen in the emergency department relatively quickly," said Dr. Michael Agus of the Children's Hospital.