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The cases of paralyzing disease affecting mainly children are still increasing, announced Monday the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC has identified 80 confirmed cases of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) among 219 reports in 2018, officials said. The cases were distributed in 25 states.
Despite an increase in the number of cases since 2014, AFM remains a very rare disease, said the CDC. In the United States, less than one in a million people receive AFM each year.
AFM is a serious disease that can cause paralysis and comparisons with polio. But the CDC pointed out that no patient has been tested positive for polio, a disease that has not existed in the United States for more than 30 years.
The AFM primarily affects the central nervous system and weakens the muscles.
The AFM is not cured and the agency does not know what is causing the disease. The CDC stated that there was no specific treatment for the AFM; there is no known medical treatment that can reverse the effects once the central nervous system is attacked. Rehabilitation can help some patients return to their function, but there are many unknown factors.
"We do not yet know the long-term effects of the AFM," said the CDC. "We know that some patients diagnosed with AFM have recovered quickly, and some continue to be paralyzed and in need of ongoing care.
The agency urges healthcare providers to be vigilant for AFM among their patients.
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