September 2014 started like any other day for Riley Bove and her 4-year-old son, Luca, a fan of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. But what began as a simple fever soon spiraled into a desperate medical crisis.

At first, Bove brushed off Luca's symptoms as just another back-to-school cold. But when his neck went limp and he couldn't lift his arm, a wave of panic surged through her. Being a neurologist herself, Bove knew this wasn't just another bug. Her instincts kicked in; she rushed him to the ER.

Tragically, within hours, Luca found himself on a breathing machine, and within a week, he faced paralysis from head to toe. Despite this harrowing ordeal, his spirit shone through as he’d try to sing the Ninja Turtle battle song, drawing on every ounce of strength.

Eventually, Luca was diagnosed with acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), a condition that had only recently made its presence known in the medical community. This mysterious illness, characterized by rapid onset of paralysis, was linked to inflammation in the spinal cord—echoing historical echoes of polio.

The infamous culprit? Enterovirus D-68 (EVD-68)—dubbed 'the new polio.' Since 2014, the CDC has reported over 770 confirmed AFM cases. After a spike in cases between 2014 and 2018, occurrences have dramatically dwindled to just a few dozen annual cases, raising eyebrows among experts.

Dr. Kevin Messacar, an infectious disease specialist, suggests that luck or viral evolution might explain this drop, but warns that the threat isn't over. "The virus could easily revert back to causing neurologic disease," he cautioned, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding EVD-68.

In the wake of increased government cuts to science funding and public health, worry has spread within the medical community. Dr. Tom Frieden, former CDC director, voices grave concerns about our current preparedness for outbreaks, saying, "We are less safe than we were."

For years, researchers struggled to identify EVD-68 as the cause of AFM. Testing limitations meant many children with initial symptoms weren’t tested effectively, complicating the investigation. But collaboration and innovation yielded results. In a remarkable feat, scientists successfully developed a vaccine candidate by isolating key genetic components of the virus.

The fight against EVD-68 isn't the only battle. Dr. Amesh Adalja emphasizes that despite diminished outbreaks, the virus carries inherent pandemic potential and requires close monitoring.

As healthcare faces significant cuts under recent government initiatives, experts express deep concerns about the future. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) suffered budget slashes of $2.6 billion, and vital public health services have been heavily impacted.

As healthcare systems struggle, there is hope—it’s not too late for the U.S. to be better prepared for future pandemics. Dr. Emily Erbelding points to recent advancements as indicators of potential progress.

Amidst these tensions, Luca has emerged as a triumphant survivor. His journey of recovery involved intensive medical interventions, yet he now enjoys life as an active teenager. Bove shares, "On good days, you wouldn’t even know he had a problem. But AFM has undeniably altered his life path and self-image."

In a world shaken by budget cuts and public health crumbling, Luca’s story reminds us of the stakes in battling ‘the new polio’ and the importance of sustaining our scientific resources to safeguard against future health crises.