A respiratory virus linked to polio-like illnesses is spreading across the US, sparking concerns of a potential rise in cases of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), a rare condition that can paralyse children.
Wastewater samples have detected a sharp increase in the enterovirus D68 (EV-D68), which in rare cases affects the nervous system, causing severe weakness in the arms and legs, particularly in young children.
“We are detecting EV-D68 nucleic acids in wastewater across the country now, and the levels are increasing,” said Alexandria Boehm, program director of WastewaterSCAN and a professor at Stanford University. Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University, indicated this could be a warning sign of a potential rise in AFM cases.
First identified as a major threat in 2014, EV-D68 has been linked to a significant spike in paediatric AFM, with 120 children diagnosed that year. While most enteroviruses cause mild symptoms like a runny nose and cough, EV-D68 can lead to life-altering disabilities in rare cases of AFM. There is currently no cure or specific treatment for the paralysis caused by AFM, and many children face long-term physical challenges.
