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Confirmed cases of a rare, polio-like disease, affecting mostly children, now reach 62 countries, confirmed Tuesday the Centers for Disease Control, a child who died of the disease.
This unexpected surge in AFM, or flaccid acute myelitis, "is a mystery" for health officials, said Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC, during A press conference.
The CDC has received reports on 127 AFM patients in 22 states and has been able to confirm 62 of these cases so far.
"The number we are reporting today is significantly higher than the previous months of this year," said Messonnier.
AFM is a "rare but serious condition" that causes paralysis. Like polio, which is considered extinct in the United States, AFM targets the nervous system and spinal cord, causing paralysis, as well as muscle weakness and respiratory failure.
Of the 62 confirmed cases, the average age of patients is only 4 years, according to the CDC, and 90% of cases involve children 18 years old or younger.
"We know it can be scary for parents," said Messonnier. "I urge parents to seek immediate medical attention if you or your child develop a sudden weakness or loss of muscle tone in the arms or legs."
Disturbingly, the CDC does not know why there has been an increase in the number of AFM cases this year.
"We have not been able to find the cause of the majority of these AFM cases," said Messonnier. "We do not know a lot of AFM, and I'm frustrated that, despite our best efforts, we have not been able to identify the cause of this mysterious disease."
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"Despite extensive laboratory testing, we did not determine which pathogen or immune response was responsible for the weakness and paralysis of the arm or leg in most cases. We do not know who could be at a higher risk of developing an AFM or why they would be at higher risk. And we do not fully understand the long-term consequences of the AFM, "she added. "We know that some patients diagnosed with AFM are recovering quickly, while others continue to be paralyzed and in need of long-term care."
However, they were able to confirm that the polio virus is not one of the causes.
"The CDC tested stool samples from each patient. None of them has been tested positive for the polio virus, "said Messonnier.
The CDC began following the AFM in 2014 after a similar increase in the number of cases. But despite the high number of patients this year, Messonnier pointed out that AFM is still extremely rare.
"Overall, the AFM rate is less than one in a million, and that's why we say this disease is incredibly rare," she said.
And while the CDC uses it to determine the cause of this increase in the number of MFA cases, Messonnier encourages parents to ensure that their children remain diligent in washing their hands and keeping up to date on vaccinations. .
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