New polio-like virus C105 acute flaccid myelitis

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/paralysis-children-new-polio-like-virus-detected-1509628

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A new strain of a polio-like virus is believed to be behind the alarming cases of paralysis reported in children across the US

The virus called enterovirus C105 belongs to the same polio family of viruses and could be causing the paralysis. Some other viruses are also in the suspect list.

The condition, known as acute flaccid myelitis, leads to muscle weakness or paralysis of arms or legs and has been seen in 100 cases in 34 states.


Initially, a virus called enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) which causes respiratory illness was suspected to be causing the disease but with very few children testing positive for the virus, researchers were looking for other candidates as well. They found enterovirus C105.


More details available from CDC.

http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/21/10/15-0759_article

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During the summer of 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an unusual increase in the frequency of acute flaccid myelitis among children in the United States. A case definition was developed, and clinicians were urged to report new cases to CDC and state health departments.

This outbreak occurred coincidentally with an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by enterovirus D68 (EV-D68). The simultaneous occurrence of the neurologic disease and the widespread occurrence of an unusual respiratory enterovirus syndrome raised suspicion that the 2 outbreaks might be linked.

We report a case that met the CDC case definition of acute flaccid myelitis but was associated with isolation of a novel enterovirus, C105, which has been previously isolated from a patient with flaccid paralysis. The presence of this virus strain in North America may contribute to the incidence of flaccid paralysis and may also pose a diagnostic challenge in clinical laboratories.