The respiratory virus Enterovirus D68, linked to rare cases of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), is spreading across the U.S. with growing detection in wastewater samples. Experts warn of a potential increase in cases this fall, particularly among children, as the virus peaks during September.
Health experts are alarmed over a virus that has been sweeping throughout the United States and has been linked with a rare disease that is somewhat similar to polio. Spiking in wastewater data is enterovirus D68, a respiratory virus that can sometimes cause severe paralysis. Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is a disease primarily affecting young children and causes sudden muscle paralysis, usually in the arms and legs, and has been linked with this virus.
A countrywide monitoring network known as WastewaterSCAN has caught an uptick in EV-D68 statewide. Program director at WastewaterSCAN Alexandria Boehm said, “We are detecting EV-D68 nucleic acids in wastewater throughout the country now, and the levels are increasing.”
Cases are increasing in a troubling season-accordingly, historically, cases of AFM spiked in September. Johns Hopkins epidemiologist Caitlin Rivers is closely following this pattern since AFM is the only known cause of paralysis resulting in long-term health complications.
Health officials are advising parents to keep an eye out for symptoms of respiratory illness in their kids as EV-D68 enters peak season.
