Health care provider alert – Acute flaccid paralysis
Situation
Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) has been informed of provincially increasing percent positivity for EV-D68 of samples sent for enterovirus testing. The CDC has also indicated an increase of pediatric hospitalizations in patients with severe respiratory illness who tested positive for rhinovirus and/or enterovirus in August 2022. EV-D68 has been associated with acute flaccid myelitis, which is a rare neurologic complication involving limb weakness.
In addition, Canada was notified of a case of polio in the United States where the person presented with an acute onset of flaccid weakness.
Diseases of Public Health Significance are reportable under the Health Protection and Promotion Act. Reporting is a legal requirement of all health care providers. The list of diseases and process can be found on our Reporting Diseases of Public Health Significance page.
Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) and polio are Diseases of Public Health Significance. Prompt reporting of AFP is important considering the recent alerts on EV-D68 and Polio. Reporting is essential in the surveillance of possible polio and maintaining Canada’s polio-free certification as it demonstrates our surveillance system’s ability to detect polio.
Actions
Testing
- Persons of any age presenting with acute AFP
- Test for Enterovirus D68, polio
- If Guillain-Barre syndrome is suspected, also test for campylobacter as described in the polio testing guidelines
Reporting
- As per instructions found on our Reporting Diseases of Public Health Significance webpage, notify Northwestern Health Unit by phone, fax, or online reporting form when you are TESTING due to AFP, please do not wait until the results are back from the lab.
Contact:
Dr. Kit Young Hoon
Medical Officer of Health
Northwestern Health Unit