Enterovirus D68, a respiratory virus that can set off serious breathing problems in children with asthma, was found in about 72% of U.S. wastewater samples in September, up from about 20% in August, according to WastewaterSCAN. The program said that "since mid-September 2026, we are seeing some of the highest concentrations of EV-D68 we've measured since monitoring began back in September 2023," and it placed the virus in its high category nationally.
Wastewater shows that a virus is spreading in a community. It does not count sick people, and it cannot predict how many children will need care. Still, the signal arrives as children crowd back into classrooms, and families of kids with asthma have the most reason to prepare.
