CDC Expects 2020 Outbreak of Life-Threatening Acute Flaccid Myelitis

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) anticipates that 2020 will be another peak year for cases of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), an uncommon but serious neurologic condition that affects mostly children. The disease has peaked every two years between August and November in the United States since 2014.  Enteroviruses, particularly enterovirus-D68 (EV-D68), are likely responsible for these peaks in cases.