Are We Prepared To Fight ‘The New Polio’?

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Jun 6, 2025

Eli Cahan, a Boston-based journalist and physician specializing in emerging diseases, talks about the alarming rise of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), a polio-like illness causing paralysis in children. He discusses the urgent need for a vaccine and what this reveals about our healthcare readiness for outbreaks. Sylvia Plevritis, a Stanford professor in Biomedical Data Science, explores the overlooked role of non-cancerous cells in tumors, which could lead to breakthroughs in cancer treatment. Together, they highlight the critical intersections of infectious diseases and cancer research.

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INSIGHT

Uncertain Long-Term AFM Recovery

Majority of AFM patients survive but often face long-term muscle and nervous system challenges.
The long-term impact on children’s mobility and function remains uncertain.

ADVICE

Essentials for Effective AFM Response

Effective detection requires aware doctors using quick, reliable tests.
Short-term measures like monoclonal antibodies and vaccines are crucial for treatment and prevention.

INSIGHT

Progress on AFM Vaccines

Vaccine candidates for AFM show early promise, but require years of testing for safety and efficacy.
Scientists achieved rapid progress since the 2014 outbreak, a monumental achievement.

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A mysterious disease called acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) has been appearing in emergency rooms for about a decade. The disease has caused otherwise healthy children to lose the ability to move their arms and legs, and some become completely paralyzed. AFM is caused by a virus that's a cousin of the polio virus, earning it the nickname "the new polio.” Journalist and physician Eli Cahan joins Host Flora Lichtman to explain what doctors have been observing, the research efforts toward developing a vaccine, and what this emerging disease reveals about our readiness for future outbreaks and pandemics.

Read Cahan’s article about what fighting this “new polio” might look like as our healthcare infrastructure gets dismantled.

And, learning more about some non-cancerous cells may help researchers better understand how cancer progresses. When you think about how cancer spreads in the body, you’re probably thinking about cancer cells—they divide uncontrollably, form into tumors, and hide from the immune system. So, it makes sense that studying the behavior of these cells is critical to our understanding of cancer. But now, researchers are looking more closely at the non-cancerous cells that co-exist within tumors and the surrounding tissues. They make up what’s called the “colocateome.” Taking this more holistic approach to cancer research may help explain why some treatments don't work for all patients, and eventually may lead to more effective therapies. To better understand this expanding field, Host Ira Flatow talks with Sylvia Plevritis, a Stanford University cancer researcher.

Correction: In the second story of this episode, with Dr. Sylvia Plevritis, we misspoke and said, “Some of the hardest to treat tumors are actually non-cancer cells.” This was in reference to tumors that are mostly non-cancer cells, not entirely non-cancer cells.

Guests:
Dr. Eli Cahan is a journalist and physician based in Boston, Massachusetts.
Dr. Sylvia Plevritis is a professor of biomedical data science and radiology at Stanford University.

Transcript is available on sciencefriday.com.

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