DETROIT - Another child has died of enterovirus D68 in the United States, local news media has reported.

Michigan state health officials said on Saturday that Madeline Reid, 21 months old, died on the disease on Friday, USA Today reported.

"It is never easy to lose a child and our entire health care team is deeply saddened by this family's loss and mourns with them through this very difficult time," USA Today quoted a statement on Saturday from Children's Hospital of Michigan chief medical officer Rudolph Valentini.

The girl was on life support since the middle of last month, it said.

Her death comes after that of a four-year-old boy in New Jersey last month, which has been linked directly to the virus.

Enterovirus D68 can lead to severe respiratory infections, and has gripped the United States, with an outbreak of close to 600 cases, almost all in children, since August.

At least four others who were infected have also died, but the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that it is unclear what role the virus played in their deaths.