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According to the CDC, 106 cases of AFD have been confirmed this year in 29 states, an increase of 16 since last week.
There are also 167 possible cases of the disease, an increase of five from the previous week.
Since 2014, there have been 430 confirmed cases of rare disease and 90% have been children, according to the CDC.
AFM is a rare disease that affects the nervous system, especially the gray matter of the spinal cord, and causes muscle weakness and a sudden onset of paralysis. Children can be affected in different ways: some find use of their paralyzed limbs, others are paralyzed from the neck to the feet and can only breathe with the help of a fan.
There is no cure or vaccine.
There is no known cause either. Although several neurologists who perform advisory duties to the CDC are convinced that an enterovirus – the same family of viruses that causes polio – is the most likely to be blamed, the CDC says it continues to make waves.
When asked if a toxin or vaccines could trigger the AFM, Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, responded that "we do not exclude anything." for the time being".
Viral diseases are very common in children and it is therefore difficult to understand why only a relatively small number of people develop an AFM. Even within the same family, many siblings can develop the same cold-like symptoms, but only one becomes paralyzed.
Messonnier said last week that the agency had funded state health departments to sensitize doctors to case identification, expanded its network of neurologists to help confirm cases and set up a group. working group of national FAM experts.
CDC spokeswoman Kristen Nordlund also said last week that the agency had assigned 14 intelligence epidemic service officers – known as "disease detectives" – to assist in the review of the reports. case of MFA.
"As a mother, I can certainly understand why parents are worried.I am concerned about this increase in the AFM," said Messonnier.
CNN's John Bonifield contributed to this report.
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