“Wonder grows when knowledge fails” (Francis
Bacon 1561-1626) A new polio-like condition mainly
affecting children (mean 5 years old) is being
observed, starting with viral and respiratory
symptoms, followed by a demyelination paralysis.
Known as Acute Flaccid Myelitis, first identified in
2010 in America, 28% to 95% of cases are associated
with Enterovirus EVD68. Yet EVD68 itself was
identified decades previously in China and the
Netherlands.
Prior to hospitalisation some children had no
evidence of neurological symptoms, hinting a possible
environmental trigger. Acute hospitals have multiple
sources of background Electro-Magnetic-Field
(EMF), some above recommended safety levels.
Hence the hypothesis “Are critical rises in human
background electromagnetism, interacting with other
environmental factors, possibly a casual factor, in
Acute Flaccid Myelitis? “There is evidence that low
frequency EFM creates cellular oxidative stress
leading to neurodegeneration. Mechanisms are
unclear but could ubiquitous background EMF play a
role in children’s vulnerability to EVD68?
The context of the hypothesis is the evidence of
accelerating rates of neurological morbidity in the
21st Century and whether the range and multiplicity
of environmental factors are impacting upon an
immune-compromised child’s neurology. As health
environmental factors were ignored in the past, e.g.
smoking and asbestos, another possible environmental
linked anomaly is feared, though we note the recent
establishment of the UK Acute Flaccid Paralysis Task
Force in 2019. This hypothesis, whilst remaining
speculative, needs to be refuted through independent
research to ensure that AFM is not another children’s
neurological condition, which once were rare but now
becoming more commonplace