CDC warns of rising cases of Enterovirus D68, a virus linked to paralysis

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns of an increase in respiratory diseases linked to paralysis in children. It’s called Enterovirus D68, and the CDC says it’s currently on the rise in the United States

The CDC shared the news in their Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reportnoting that enterovirus D68 cases started to rise this summer after a “prolonged period” of low numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report describes how in August, doctors in several regions of the country notified the CDC of an increase in hospitalizations of children with “severe respiratory disease” and positive results for enterovirus D68 (EV-D68). This has resulted in “significant resource demands” in some hospitals and has also “collapsed” with an increase in acute flaccid myelitis, an uncommon but serious neurological condition that causes the muscles and reflexes in the body to become weak.

“The ongoing monitoring of EV-D68 is critical,” the CDC said in the report.

The report comes just weeks after the CDC released a health advisory warning doctors to be on the lookout for enterovirus D68 in patients. Here’s what you need to know about Enterovirus D68 and how concerned you should be about it.

What is Enterovirus D68?

Enterovirus D68 is a respiratory infection that is one of more than 100 diseases called non-polio enteroviruses, according to the CDC. (Polio, the infectious disease that can cause paralysis, is also an enterovirus.)

Enterovirus D68 usually causes a mild respiratory illness, like the common cold, but it can also cause a serious complication called acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), which can lead to paralysis, according to the CDC.

Enterovirus and enterovirus D68 usually come in waves, causing a spike in infections every two years, according to the CDC. Infections are also more likely in summer and autumn.

Enterovirus D68 symptoms

Enterovirus can cause mild symptoms, severe symptoms, or no symptoms at all, the CDC says. Mild symptoms can be:

• Runny nose
• Sneeze
• couch
• body aches
• Muscle cramp

Severe symptoms can include:

• gasping
• difficulty breathing

If someone develops AFM from Enterovirus D68, they may have the following symptoms:

• arm or leg weakness
• Pain in the neck, back, arms or legs
• Difficulty swallowing or slurred speech
• Difficulty moving your eyes or droopy eyelids
• facial drop or weakness

How concerned should you be about Enterovirus D68?

AFM is considered a rare complication of enterovirus D68, but it’s more common than most people realize. In 2014, a large outbreak of enterovirus D68 resulted in about 10% of infected people developing AFM, according to the CDC.

According to the CDC, there was a spike in AFM cases in the US in 2014, 2016, and 2018, which also coincided with a surge in enterovirus D68.

“AFM is a rare complication of enterovirus D68,” said Amesh A. Adalja, MD, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. “However, it is a serious problem when it occurs.”

AFM from enterovirus D68 is more common in children than adults, says Dr. Adalia. “Although adults can become infected with enterovirus D68, they rarely develop AFM,” he says.

“We’ve had outbreaks in the past that haven’t received as much attention,” Perry N. Halkitis, Ph.D., dean of Rutgers School of Public Health, tells SELF. “Enterovirus D68 is of increased concern at this time, possibly because of increased concerns about poliovirus. But do I think it will become a widespread problem? No.”

Notable: Daniel Ganjian, MD, a pediatrician at Providence Saint John Health Center in Santa Monica, California, said his practice is seeing “a rise in the common cold and enterovirus.” But, he adds, “we’re not seeing an increase in AFM.”

How to protect yourself from enteroviruses

Enterovirus can be difficult to avoid when it’s circulating, says Dr. Adalia. “Enteroviruses are ubiquitous and very difficult to avoid,” he says.

Still, there are a few things you can do to lower your risk. A big factor is good hand hygiene, says Dr. ganjian Other safety tips according to the CDC:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
• Avoid close contact such as kissing, hugging, and sharing cups or dishes with sick people
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your upper shirt sleeve (i.e. not your hands)
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as toys and doorknobs. This is especially important when someone is ill.

Overall, experts say many of the safety precautions people have taken during the pandemic can help reduce the risk of contracting enterovirus D68. “Just keep doing what you’ve been doing,” says Dr. ganjian