A respiratory virus that occasionally causes paralysis in children is spreading across the US, sparking fears of a potential surge in polio-like illnesses. Significant increases in an enterovirus known as D68 have been detected in wastewater samples. This virus, in rare instances, has been associated with acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), a condition that affects the nervous system and leads to severe weakness in the limbs, primarily affecting 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, a nonprofit monitoring network, and a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University. New study finds microplastics in the human brain for the first time Woman, 32, nearly dies after 70oz of black slime erupts from lungs due to vaping This discovery suggests that the nation might witness a rise in AFM cases this year, according to Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and author of "Crisis Averted: The Hidden Science of Fighting Outbreaks." "The second clue," she added, "is that the time of year is right.
" Historically, September has seen the highest number of AFM cases. Enteroviruses are incredibly common, and anyone who's ever had a cold likely had one. Most of the time, these viruses cause mild symptoms like a runny nose, cough, headache, and general feelings of malaise.
However, the D68 .