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MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Researchers believe they have identified the origin of a polio-like illness that affects Minnesota children.
Acute flaccid myelitis, or MAF, causes severe muscle weakness and may leave children partially paralyzed. The Minnesota Department of Health states that there is usually only one case in the state each year.
In 2018, there were 10.
Quinton Hill of Lakeville was one of the children diagnosed with AFM. WCCO-TV spoke to his father, James Hill, last October after his son was hospitalized for two weeks.
"Extremely emotional. Obviously, the world seemed to collapse, "Hill said.
Dr. Heidi Moline is Chief Resident of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota. She was the principal investigator of a new study on children with MFA in Minnesota. She says that several viruses can cause the disease.
"Nothing has been found in the fluid around the brain of these children until now," said Moline.
This is where the researchers discovered a possible breakthrough called Enterovirus-D68.
"One of our cases discovered this virus," said Moline. "And that really gives us this stronger correlation between AFM and Enterovirus-D68."
Enteroviruses are common infections leading to coughs and congestion – symptoms According to Dr. Moline, all children in the study had about a week before the diagnosis.
Although this study provides an overview of the AFM, doctors are still trying to understand exactly how children are getting it and why there has been an increase in the number of cases over the past year.
"We are still working on this and trying to learn as much as possible to help these families and ourselves better understand the disease," said Moline.
She says viruses spread mainly through droplets in the air. That's why it's so important to wash your hands and cover your cough.
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