Expected surge in virus that can paralyze kids didn’t happen, baffling experts
An outbreak of acute flaccid myelitis, a virus that can paralyze children, was expected to spread across the U.S, but never did -- baffling experts. This is a MedPage Today story. In September, MedPage Today reported on an increase of enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) cases among U.S. children, which has been linked to a rare neurological condition that can cause polio-like paralysis in children. In this report, we follow up on what has happened since those initial reports. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sounded the alarm on EV-D68 with a Health Alert Network Advisory in September announcing that cases were on the rise. Later that month, the agency reported surveillance data showing that rhinovirus, enterovirus, or both were detected in 26.4% of children and adolescents with acute respiratory illness seeking emergency care or requiring hospitalization. Of these, 260 (17.4%) tested positive for EV-D68, and that rate climbed to 56% by mid-August. MORE: Surge of respiratory illnes...