Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, has voiced concern over the timing of the rise in cases. “...the time of year is right,” Rivers noted, hinting at the possibility of a surge in AFM cases this year.

"We are detecting EV-D68 nucleic acids in wastewater across the country now, and the levels are increasing," said Alexandria Boehm, program director of WastewaterSCAN. Historically, September has been the peak month for AFM cases.

( NewsNation) — A poliolike virus that can cause paralysis in children and teens is spiking again, U.S. wastewater data shows.

Rates of enterovirus D68, a respiratory virus that can sometimes lead to a polio-like illness and paralysis in children, have risen significantly across the U.S. over the past month, new data show. Nationally, the virus is now being detected at medium ...

Enterovirus EV-D68 poses a risk to children in the US with symptoms ranging from mild cold-like issues to severe conditions like paralysis. The virus has been detected in wastewater samples and is linked to acute flaccid myelitis,

D68, a seasonal virus that can -- in rare cases -- cause polio-like symptoms in children. Dr. Kristin Moffitt, an infectious disease specialist at Boston Children's Hospital, explains.

EV-D68 is a virus that causes respiratory illness similar to the common cold. The virus sometimes leads to severe breathing issues and outbreaks of neurological disease (acute flaccid myelitis) that causes paralysis.