A respiratory virus that can rarely cause a polio-like neurological illness in children is showing increased activity in parts of California, according to wastewater monitoring data.
Wastewater surveillance organization WastewaterSCAN has reported rising levels of Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) in several areas of the San Francisco Bay Area, including Palo Alto, Napa, southeastern San Francisco and San Rafael.
EV-D68 is one of more than 100 non-polio enteroviruses. The virus typically becomes more common in late summer and early autumn.
Most infections cause cold-like respiratory symptoms, including coughing, difficulty breathing and wheezing. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some infected children may also develop fever, while severe cases can lead to significant breathing problems or pneumonia-like complications.
Infants, young children and adolescents may face a higher risk of severe illness because they may not have previously been exposed to the virus and therefore may have less natural immunity.
Rare Neurological Complication
In very rare cases, EV-D68 has been associated with acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), an uncommon but serious neurological condition that primarily affects children.
AFM symptoms generally develop several weeks after the initial respiratory infection. The condition can cause sudden weakness in the arms or legs and requires urgent medical evaluation.
Health authorities advise parents to seek medical attention if a child develops severe breathing difficulties or unusual neurological symptoms, particularly following a recent respiratory illness.
The rise in wastewater detections does not mean that every child infected with EV-D68 will develop AFM. Most infections remain respiratory in nature, while serious neurological complications are considered rare.