US wastewater samples show increased enterovirus D68
Wastewater samples in the US have detected an increase in enterovirus D68This virus can, in rare cases, cause acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM, which affects the nervous system and causes severe weakness in the arms and legs. The disease most often affects young children. This virus can also cause paralysis in children.
According to a report by NBC News, Alexandria Boehm, program director of WastewaterSCAN, a nonprofit monitoring network and professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University, said: “We are detecting EV-D68 nucleic acids in wastewater across the country now, and levels are increasing.”
Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said: “That’s the first clue that suggests the country could see an increase in AFM this year.” She added that the second clue “is that the time of year is right.”
What is Enterovirus D68?
Also known as EV-D68, it is a virus that causes respiratory infections, usually in children and adolescents. However, adults can also be affected. The infection causes mild, cold-like symptoms. People infected with EV-D68 develop severe breathing problems or a nervous system disorder called acute flaccid myelitis (AFM).
The Cleveland Clinic says AFM causes sudden, extreme muscle weakness and paralysis. In the United States, flares of these severe symptoms occur every two years in late summer and early fall.
Symptoms of enterovirus D68
Here, let’s take a look at some of the symptoms of enterovirus D68.
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Cough
- Fever
- Muscle pain or body aches.
- Sore throat
- Wheezing
- Difficulty breathing
- Diarrhea.
Some people develop AFM symptoms a few days to two weeks after the initial symptoms of EV-D68. Here, take a look at the symptoms of AFM.
- Weakness
- Slurred speech
- Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
- Drooping eyelids
- Difficulty moving the eyes
- Facial paralysis
- Pain in the back, neck, arm or leg.
Causes of enterovirus D68
The virus is a non-polio enterovirus that causes a viral infection. There are more than 100 non-polio enteroviruses that cause various symptoms. Most people with enterovirus D68 have respiratory infections that cause symptoms such as a runny nose or cough. But it can also infect the spinal cord, similar to the virus that causes polio. This causes nerve damage, resulting in temporary or permanent paralysis.
Enterovirus D68 is contagious and can spread in the following ways.
- Sneezing or coughing
- Sharing eating utensils and cups
- Touching doorknobs, toys, or other contaminated surfaces
- Contact with infected feces.
Complications of enterovirus D68
Enterovirus D68 can cause AFM. It can also cause the following complications.
- Pneumonia
- Encephalitis
- Meningitis.
The Cleveland Clinic says people with asthma or a weakened immune system are more likely to experience severe respiratory symptoms. Children under 7 are most at risk for acute flaccid myelitis.
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