The New Vaccine Surveillance Network Report on Enterovirus D68 Infections

Anyone who has been following the outbreaks of Acute Flaccid Myelitis the last few years will likely think the following report is long overdue.

The report, Enterovirus D68–Associated Acute Respiratory Illness — New Vaccine Surveillance Network, United States, July–October,2017 and 2018, is especially welcome by those folks who are already convinced that AFM is associated with EV D68.

The New Vaccine Surveillance Network Report on Enterovirus D68 Infections

But wait, why was surveillance done through the New Vaccine Surveillance Network?

And for that matter, what is the New Vaccine Surveillance Network?

“The New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN) includes study sites that focus on population-based surveillance and data collection on the use and impact of vaccines and the impact of vaccine policies. Since 2006, NVSN sites have conducted active, population-based surveillance for hospitalizations and outpatient visits associated with acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children (2006-present). NVSN sites have conducted surveillance for acute respiratory illness (ARI) from 2000 to 2009, and again beginning in 2015.”

New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN)

Before you start thinking that this means a new Enterovirus D68 vaccine is coming out soon, many NVSN studies have nothing to do with vaccines…

“NVSN supports broad-based surveillance and research projects for acute gastroenteritis and acute respiratory infections in areas with a population base of at least 500,000.”

New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN) Overview

In addition to studies on the flu and pneumococcal disease, they have done studies on norovirus, coronavirus, human metapneumovirus, HPIV, RSV, and rhinovirus infections.

So what did they find out about Enterovirus D68 infections?

“Based on preliminary data, test results were positive for EV-D68 for two (0.08%) of 2,433 patients with ARI who were tested during 2017 and 358 (13.9%) of 2,579 tested during 2018. “

Enterovirus D68–Associated Acute Respiratory Illness — New Vaccine Surveillance Network, United States, July–October, 2017 and 2018

There were a lot more EV D68 infecions in 2018 than there were in 2017

And what does that mean?

Considering that we had “only” 33 confirmed cases of AFM in 16 states in 2017 and at least 223 confirmed cases of AFM in 41 states in 2018, the rise in EV-D68 cases seems to correlate with the rise in AFM.

“Although AFM is rare in the United States, these AFM surveillance data, along with the EV-D68 activity documented through NVSN, provide additional supporting evidence for a temporal association between EV-D68 respiratory illness and AFM. “

Enterovirus D68–Associated Acute Respiratory Illness — New Vaccine Surveillance Network, United States, July–October, 2017 and 2018

Again, few people are going to be surprised by this news…

So, what’s next?

You mean besides the 2019 AFM season?

More on Acute Flaccid Myelitis News

• MMWR – Enterovirus D68–Associated Acute Respiratory Illness — New Vaccine Surveillance Network, United States, July–October, 2017 and 2018
• KEEPKIDSHEALTHY – Acute Flaccid Myelitis Update
• KEEPKIDSHEALTHY – What Causes Acute Flaccid Myelitis?
• KEEPKIDSHEALTHY – Is Acute Flaccid Myelitis Contagious?
• KEEPKIDSHEALTHY – Is AFM a Form of Transverse Myelitis?
• KEEPKIDSHEALTHY – Why Do Some People Think That Vaccines Cause AFM?
• KEEPKIDSHEALTHY – Do Vaccines Cause Acute Flaccid Myelitis?
• KEEPKIDSHEALTHY – The BMJ Asks If Injections Are Part of the “Mystery” of Acute Flaccid Myelitis/AFM…
• KEEPKIDSHEALTHY – The Case for Making AFM Reporting Mandatory
• KEEPKIDSHEALTHY – What to Know About the Acute Flaccid Myelitis Investigations
• AFM Task Force Report
• New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN)
• National Overview of Acute Flaccid Myelitis—United States, 2014–2018
• CDC Telebriefing: Update on Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) in the U.S. (Transcript)
• MMWR – Increase in Acute Flaccid Myelitis — United States, 2018
• CSTE – Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) Statement from the CSTE Executive Board
• CDC – AFM Investigation
• CSTE – Revision to the Standardized Surveillance and Case Definition for Acute Flaccid Myelitis
• CDC – Acute Flaccid Myelitis: Interim Considerations for Clinical Management
• CDC Telebriefing: Update on Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) in the U.S. (Oct 2018)
• Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM): What Health Care Providers Need to Know, COCA Call, November 13, 2018.
• Study – Acute Flaccid Myelitis in the United States, August–December 2014: Results of Nationwide Surveillance
• Information for Canadians regarding reports of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM)
• Study – Increase in Enterovirus D68 Infections in Young Children, United Kingdom, 2006–2016

Last Updated on March 28, 2019 by Vincent Iannelli, MD