The number of cases of acute neurologic illness of undetermined etiology reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has risen by by 14 during the past week.
As of October 23, CDC has verified reports of 51 cases in 23 states that meet the case definition for acute neurologic illness with focal limb weakness of unknown etiology. The case definition is as follows: Patient ≤21 years of age, Acute onset of focal limb weakness, on or after August 1, 2014, AND an MRI showing a spinal cord lesion largely restricted to gray matter. The federal health agency says to be considered a case, a patient must meet ALL 4 of the aforementioned criteria.
The CDC reported in late September that the United States is currently experiencing a nationwide outbreak of EV-D68 associated with severe respiratory disease. The possible linkage of this cluster of neurologic disease to this large EV-D68 outbreak is part of the current investigation.
From mid-August to October 23, 2014, CDC or state public health laboratories have confirmed a total of 973 people in 47 states and the District of Columbia with respiratory illness caused by EV-D68.
