A new virus is spreading in the U.S that causes paralyzing illness; here are symptoms, cure, precautions

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

EV-D68 nucleic acids have been found to be rising in wastewater across the country, according to Alexandria Boehm of the WastewaterSCAN monitoring network. Epidemiologist Caitlin Rivers notes that the time coincides with AFM's traditional peak season, which is September. This virus has been associated with periodic surges in AFM incidence in the United States since 2014.

Symptoms and impact

Enteroviruses, such as EV-D68, typically cause moderate symptoms such as headache, coughing, and runny nose. But on rare occasions, EV-D68 might result in AFM, which produces an abrupt weakness in the arms and legs. Even after receiving intensive physical therapy, many affected children still have long-term difficulties due to the potentially severe nature of the disorder. There was a significant increase in AFM incidence in 2014, with 120 cases reported. This trend of increasing AFM cases every other year persisted until 2020, when COVID-19 lockdowns caused a significant drop in cases that were reported. AFM instances did not follow the predicted pattern in 2022, despite the fact that D68 virus levels rose once more.

Also Read: More than rate cut, this could be the most important news coming out from the Fed this week

Challenges in treatment

There are few available therapeutic options for AFM, and there is no known cure. Physical treatment is the main strategy, however it might not be sufficient to fully restore lost function. Potential treatments are being investigated by researchers like Dr. Buddy Creech, who is