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Enterovirus D68 is spreading in California, particularly in areas like Palo Alto and San Francisco’s Bay Area, according to data from WastewaterSCAN monitoring viral traces in wastewater. While EV-D68 often causes cold-like symptoms, it can occasionally lead to acute flaccid myelitis, a rare but serious neurological condition mainly affecting small children. Health officials advise frequent handwashing and vaccination against flu and COVID-19 to mitigate risks.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Enterovirus D68, a respiratory virus that in rare cases can lead to polio-like illness in small children, is on the rise in California, particularly in the Bay Area. WastewaterSCAN data shows high and rising concentrations of EV-D68 in areas like Palo Alto, Napa, Southeast San Francisco, and San Rafael. Common symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, fever, and potentially pneumonia or difficulty breathing. In extremely rare instances, EV-D68 can cause acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), a dangerous neurological condition primarily affecting children that may appear weeks after initial infection.
Written for “Acute Flaccid Myelitis Spread” on 2026-10-06,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
A respiratory virus that in rare instances can lead to polio-like illness in small children is currently on the rise in California.
asserted
that → lead → California
Concentrations of enterovirus D68 are high and continuing to rise in the Bay Area, including Palo Alto, Napa, Southeast San Francisco and San Rafael, SFGate reported, citing data from WastewaterSCAN, which monitors traces of viruses in municipal wastewater.
asserted
which → continue → wastewater
EV-D68, one of the more than 100 non-polio enteroviruses, typically spreads in late summer and early fall.
asserted
D68 → spread → summer
Common symptoms resemble the common cold, including cough, shortness of breath and wheezing.
asserted
symptoms → resemble → breath
Children with EV-D68 may also have fever or develop more serious symptoms like difficulty breathing or pneumonia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
uncertain
Children → have → Control
In some rare instances, EV-D68 can also cause acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM, which is an uncommon but dangerous neurological condition that mainly affects children.
asserted
that → cause → children
Symptoms of AFM will start to appear several weeks after an EV-D68 infection.
asserted
Symptoms → start → infection
Symptoms of AFM can include arm or leg weakness, loss of muscle tone and reflexes, pain in the neck, back, arms or legs, difficulty swallowing or slurred speech, difficulty moving the eyes and facial droop or weakness.
asserted
Symptoms → include → eyes
Older adults, small children and those who are immunocompromised are at the greatest risk of developing severe illness if they contract EV-D68, Dr. Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease specialist at UCSF, told SFGate.
asserted
Gandhi → immunocompromise → SFGate
Even though the majority of respiratory illnesses are mild for healthy individuals, they can still be “severe for certain risk groups,” Gandhi noted.
asserted
Gandhi → note → groups
There is no vaccine for EV-D68, but people can protect themselves from it by frequently washing their hands and avoiding contact with people who are sick.
asserted
who → be → people
Amid the rise in EV-D68 cases, Bay Area residents are also being encouraged to receive updated flu shots and COVID-19 vaccines this fall, according to the report.
uncertain
residents → encourage → report
The rise in cases comes as San Francisco’s Department of Public Health announced the first flu-related death of the season on October 1.
asserted
Department → come → October
“This sad news reminds us that respiratory viruses such as flu and COVID should be taken very seriously, especially for people who are at higher risk of getting sick,” San Francisco Health Officer Dr. Susan Philip said with the announcement.
asserted
Philip → remind → announcement
“With fall festivities approaching, we want people to stay healthy and do all the fun and joyful things they want to do.
asserted
they → approach → things
Vaccines help make this happen.”
asserted
this → help → ?
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