Acute flaccid myelitis in Europe between 2016 and 2023: indicating the need for better registration
Helfferich, Jelte Calvo, Cristina Alpeter, Ekkehardt Andrés, Cristina Antón, Andrés Aubart, Melodie Bova, Stefania Maria Cabrerizo, Maria von Eije, Karin Fabiola, Stollar
Helfferich, Jelte
Calvo, Cristina
Alpeter, Ekkehardt
Andrés, Cristina
Antón, Andrés
Aubart, Melodie
Bova, Stefania Maria
Cabrerizo, Maria
von Eije, Karin
Fabiola, Stollar
Series / Report no.
Open Access
Type
Journal Article
Article
Article
Language
en
Date of publication
2025-05
Year of publication
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Title
Acute flaccid myelitis in Europe between 2016 and 2023: indicating the need for better registration
Translated Title
Published in
Euro Surveill 2025; 30(21):2400579
Abstract
BackgroundAcute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is a rare polio-like condition affecting mainly children and characterised by severe, often persistent, weakness. It is one of several causes of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), which manifests as acute onset of limb weakness and reduced muscle tone. Some non-polio enteroviruses (EV), such as EV-D68 may cause AFM. Little is known about AFM incidence in Europe.AimWe aimed to better understand AFM incidence, aetiology and current surveillance policies in Europe.MethodsIn 28 countries, members of the European non-polio enterovirus network (ENPEN) and a newly established AFM network of clinicians under ENPEN received a survey asking them how AFM surveillance was performed in their countries in 2016-2023 and the numbers of AFM cases including those diagnosed with EV-D68 infection during this period.ResultsSurveillance information was obtained for 16 countries. In eight countries, AFP surveillance initiated for poliomyelitis eradication was still ongoing, while non-polio AFM cases were only systematically reported in Norway. The survey revealed 130 AFM cases for 14 countries, with 48 (37%) EV-D68-laboratory-confirmed. Among the AFM cases, 70% (n = 91) occurred in 2016, 2018 and 2022, when EV-D68 circulation increased.ConclusionsThis report provides some indication of AFM case numbers in Europe since 2016. However, as 15 of 16 countries with AFM monitoring information lacked structural AFM surveillance, numbers should be interpreted with caution. Knowing AFM incidence matters to determine its impact and detect future outbreaks. Thus, the newly established clinical network will develop a European AFM repository.