Health
Rising Enterovirus Cases in U.S. Wastewater Spark Concerns Over Child Paralysis Risk
Clear Facts
- Wastewater samples indicate elevated levels of enterovirus D68, a virus linked to paralysis in children.
- The virus commonly causes mild symptoms but can lead to severe neurological complications in rare cases.
- There is currently no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for enterovirus D68.
Recent wastewater data has raised alarms about a potential increase in cases of enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) in the United States. This virus, often associated with mild respiratory symptoms, has a rare but serious link to paralysis in children.
Dr. Sharon Nachman, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, explained the seasonal nature of the virus.
“It circulates in the summer, like all its other enteroviral cousins, but this one causes a specific problem,” she said.
“It affects the nerves and can cause paralysis across the spinal cord.”
WastewaterSCAN, a nonprofit organization based at Stanford University, has been monitoring wastewater samples nationwide. Their data, shared with the CDC’s National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS), helps provide early warnings of infectious diseases.
“Wastewater is a good surrogate marker for whether a virus is circulating in the environment,” Nachman noted.
“So the take-home message is that this virus is circulating.”
As of September 21, WastewaterSCAN reported that 306 out of 400 wastewater samples tested positive for EV-D68, classifying the levels as “moderate.”
In most cases, EV-D68 causes mild symptoms like a runny nose, cough, and fever. However, it can lead to acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), a condition that mimics polio and results in muscle weakness and paralysis.
Dr. Aaron Glatt, chief of infectious diseases at Mount Sinai South Nassau, described AFM as “a rare but potentially very serious illness that can mimic polio and can cripple children.”
While most cases of paralysis are temporary and treatable with physical therapy, the virus poses a higher risk to infants, children, and teenagers, especially those with asthma.
The CDC advises several preventive measures, including avoiding the sharing of drinks and utensils, disinfecting surfaces, and practicing good hand hygiene. Parents should also keep children home when they are sick.
“If a child complains that they are feeling weakness in their legs or having trouble walking, that could be a warning sign of EV-D68,” Nachman said.
“Your child’s pediatrician is an expert on your child, and that’s a better choice than just an urgent care walk-in center who doesn’t know them.”
In severe cases, symptoms like difficulty breathing, confusion, and slurred speech require immediate medical attention. Diagnosis may involve a blood test, lumbar puncture, or MRI after ruling out other illnesses like the flu and COVID-19.
Currently, there is no vaccine or specific antiviral medication for EV-D68. Treatment focuses on supportive care and physical therapy for those experiencing muscle weakness.
The CDC has not yet issued an official statement or health alert regarding this virus.
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