There is rising concerns across the world. First, we suffered from Corona, and recently the Monkeypox is also in news. In the recent article by ET, there is the presence of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), a debilitating disease, is growing due to the spread of EV-D68, an unusual respiratory virus. Severe paralysis happens on rare occasions, but most cases are moderate. Let us know more about it. The actual name is Enteroviruses spread in the USA, which is spreading and causing major health problem.
What Is this Enteroviruses spreading in the USA? Know More Here!
Have you ever heard of enteroviruses? You might not have, so let us tell you about it! They’re common viruses that can cause things like headaches, coughing, or even a runny nose. One type, called EV-D68, is usually pretty mild. But sometimes, it can be more serious.
Now what we mentioned, is the AFM. What is that? In rare cases, EV-D68 can cause something called AFM, or Acute Flaccid Myelitis. Now, AFM is tricky because it makes your arms and legs feel weak all of a sudden. Even with loads of physical therapy, some kids who get AFM still have long-term trouble moving around. It’s pretty serious stuff.
When did we first get to know of Enteroviruses spreading in the USA?
Back in 2014, AFM cases spiked, with 120 kids affected. And every two years after that, more cases popped up…until 2020. The COVID-19 lockdowns slowed things down, and AFM cases dropped big time that year.
In 2022, the virus levels went up again, but AFM cases didn’t follow the same pattern. Scientists are still trying to figure out why that happened. Now, in 2024 the Enteroviruses spreading in the USA has become a major thing for the health department. Will this be a pandemic?
Is the treatment easy?
As per the reports, researchers like Dr. Buddy Creech are working on potential treatments! Dr. Creech is studying something called a monoclonal antibody. Sounds fancy, right? It’s shown some good results in animal trials, which gives hope that it might work in humans too.
But currently, and sadly, there’s no cure yet. The main way doctors try to help is with physical therapy, but even that might not fully bring back all movement.
What could be the cause of Enteroviruses spreading in the USA?
Alexandria Boehm from the WastewaterSCAN monitoring network mentioned that EV-D68 nucleic acids are on the rise in wastewater all across the country! This means the virus might be spreading more.
What’s important is that this is happening just before AFM’s traditional peak season, which is usually around September. Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist, pointed this out too. Since 2014, there have been periodic spikes in AFM cases in the U.S., and they often happen around this time of year.
In Conclusion…
The rise in Enteroviruses spreading in the USA is raising concerns about a potential spike in acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) cases. AFM is a dangerous condition that damages the nervous system, often leading to severe limb paralysis. As Yahoo News reports, young children are the ones most affected by this illness, making it even more concerning as we approach the usual AFM peak season in September.
With EV-D68 being detected more frequently in wastewater, it’s a reminder to stay vigilant and aware of the potential health risks. While researchers are working hard on new treatments, such as the monoclonal antibody in development, there’s still a long way to go
