A respiratory virus that in rare instances can cause polio‑like illness in children is on the rise in California. WastewaterSCAN data show high concentrations of enterovirus D68 (EV‑D68) in the Bay Area, including Palo Alto, Napa, Southeast San Francisco and San Rafael. The virus typically spreads in late summer and early fall, and SFGate reported the uptick in cases.
EV‑D68 is one of more than 100 non‑polio enteroviruses. Common symptoms resemble a cold, with cough, shortness of breath and wheezing. Children may develop fever, difficulty breathing or pneumonia, and infants, young children and teenagers are at higher risk because they lack immunity from previous exposure, the CDC says.
In rare instances, EV‑D68 can trigger acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), a serious neurological condition that mainly affects children. Symptoms of AFM appear weeks after infection and can include limb weakness, loss of muscle tone, neck or back pain, difficulty swallowing, slurred speech, eye movement problems and facial droop. Dr. Monica Gandhi of UCSF warned that older adults, small children and immunocompromised people are most vulnerable to severe illness.
There is no vaccine for EV‑68, but frequent hand washing and avoiding contact with sick individuals can reduce transmission. Bay Area residents are urged to receive updated flu and COVID‑19 vaccines this fall. San Francisco’s Department of Public Health announced the first flu‑related death of the season on October 1, and Health Officer Dr. Susan Philip emphasized that respiratory viruses should be taken seriously, especially for high‑risk groups, and that vaccines help people stay healthy during fall festivities.
