Enterovirus D68: acute respiratory illness and the 2014 outbreak

Enteroviruses cause illnesses ranging from benign upper respiratory infections to severe meningitis and encephalitis. A recent uptick in the number of patients, many of them children, with respiratory infections caused by enterovirus 68 (EV-D68) has captured the attention of health care providers and public health administrators. In the United States, this type of infection was confirmed in 1152 people during 2014. This article examines recent trends in EV-D68 infections, reviewing past outbreaks and the 2014 outbreak, and describes the increasing cases of acute flaccid myelitis and their possible connection with EV-D68.