Enterovirus D68 Spreading in U.S. Raises Concerns of Polio-like Illness in Children

A respiratory virus that has the potential to cause paralysis in children is currently spreading throughout the United States, leading to concerns about a possible rise in polio-like conditions. Recent wastewater samples have shown a significant increase in the presence of an enterovirus known as EV-D68, which in rare instances, has been associated with acute flaccid myelitis (AFM). This condition affects the nervous system and results in severe weakness in the arms and legs, primarily impacting young children.

Detection and Warnings

Alexandria Boehm, program director of WastewaterSCAN, a nonprofit monitoring network, and a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University, stated, “We are detecting EV-D68 nucleic acids in wastewater across the country now, and the levels are increasing.” This disturbing finding serves as the first indication that the nation may experience a rise in AFM cases this year as explained by Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and author of “Crisis Averted: The Hidden Science of Fighting Outbreaks.” The potential for an increase in AFM cases raises significant public health concerns, as this condition can have debilitating and long-lasting effects on affected children.