Polio-like illness possibly linked to enterovirus outbreak

BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) -- Boston Children's Hospital is monitoring some patients who have developed polio-like symptoms that are potentially linked to Enterovirus D-68, an announcement that was made in a news conference Tuesday. Two of the four children being monitored were released Wednesday.

"The relationship between the patients with polio-like symptoms and Enterovirus D68 is unclear at this time," said pediatric neurologist Dr. Mark Gorman.

The first clue about these patients came from Colorado Children's Hospital, who have reported nine patients who presented a clinical pattern of weakness in one or multiple limbs, Dr. Gorman said. Those patients also had distinctive findings in MRI testing related to their spinal cord.

The national Centers for Disease Control is investigating, as well as the Colorado Department of Public Health.

Of the nine Colorado patients, six tested positive for Enterovirus, and four of those tested positive for Enterovirus D68, the CDC stated.

All of the patients are under 21 years old, presented limb weakness on or after August 1, and the MRI showed a spinal cord lesion largely restricted to the central portion of the spinal cord, Dr. Gorman said, referencing the CDC guidelines that have been created.

In Boston, doctors at Children's have seen four patients who have met that criteria, and two patients who met some but not all of the criteria. Those four patients all had a respiratory illness in the two weeks proceeding their neurologic symptoms, Dr. Gorman said.

Of those four patients, who range in age from four to 15 years old, one had a nasal sample sent to the state lab for testing, and that result came back negative for Enterovirus D68. The other three results are still pending, Dr. Gorman said.

The Massachusetts Department of Health released a statement after the news conference saying that officials there will be working with area hospitals to identify any cases that match the reports from Colorado.

Doctors at Boston Children's are working with hospitals and doctors nationally to discuss treatment.

Prevention is key to avoiding any virus, Dr. Gorman said, encouraging hand washing and anyone with a child with a respiratory illness to stay home. Gorman emphasized that the relationship between the polio-like symptoms and Enterovirus D68 is unknown.

Cox Media Group