Enterovirus D68-Associated Acute Flaccid Myelitis, United States, 2020

• Published in: Emerging infectious diseases Vol. 26; no. 10; pp. 6 - 12
• Main Authors: Kidd, Sarah, Lopez, Adriana S, Konopka-Anstadt, Jennifer L, Nix, W Allan, Routh, Janell A, Oberste, M Steven
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 01-10-2020
• Subjects: acute flaccid myelitis; Antibodies; Cell culture; central nervous system viral diseases; Disease control; enterovirus infections; Epidemics; Epidemiology; Etiology; EV-D68; Guillain-Barre syndrome; Illnesses; Infections; Magnetic resonance imaging; Medical laboratories; Online Report; Paralysis; Pathogens; Pediatrics; Poliomyelitis; Respiratory diseases; United States; Viral infections; viruses; United States > US; Colorado; viruses; central nervous system viral diseases; EV-D68; United States; enterovirus infections; acute flaccid myelitis
• ISSN: 1080-6040; 1080-6059
• DOI: 10.3201/eid2610.201630

Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is a serious neurologic condition that causes limb weakness or paralysis in previously healthy children. Since clusters of cases were first reported in 2014, nationwide surveillance has demonstrated sharp increases in AFM cases in the United States every 2 years, most occurring during late summer and early fall. Given this current biennial pattern, another peak AFM season is expected during fall 2020 in the United States. Scientific understanding of the etiology and the factors driving the biennial increases in AFM has advanced rapidly in the past few years, although areas of uncertainty remain. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and AFM partners are focused on answering key questions about AFM epidemiology and mechanisms of disease. This article summarizes the current understanding of AFM etiology and outlines priorities for surveillance and research as we prepare for a likely surge in cases in 2020.