Polio disease is on the rise with 85 possible cases

The cases of crippling disease affecting mainly children seem to be increasing throughout the country, revealed an unofficial survey of NBC News.

The disease, called acute flaccid myelitis or MAF, appears to be caused by a viral infection, but health officials have not been able to link the cases to a single virus. It causes symptoms ranging from muscle weakness to complete paralysis.

Health officials in 26 states told NBC News that they were investigating or reporting 85 cases of AFD.

It appears suddenly and can cause various symptoms, including dizziness, inability to walk, difficulty swallowing or difficulty moving an arm. There is no specific treatment, but if children have symptoms, they need prompt care – especially if they have trouble breathing because they may need a ventilator.

By the end of September, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had confirmed 38 cases in 16 states. The CDC did not name the states, but Colorado health officials said they had 14 cases in 2018 and Minnesota officials confirmed six.

Public health officials from 24 other states have since told NBC News that they have suspected and confirmed cases, some of them reported after the end of September. An unofficial count based on interviews with these officials shows 33 suspected and 52 confirmed cases of acute flaccid myelitis, for a total of 85 suspected and confirmed cases.

"Two possible cases under investigation are currently reported in 2018," said Brittany Fowler, spokesperson for the Maryland Department of Health, at NBC News.

"We have just had a suspected case reported in an adult male," said Lynn Sutfin of the Michigan Department of Public Health.

A spokesman for the CDC said the agency was not planning to release the figures updated this week.

It takes time to confirm a case of AFM. Viruses can cause a series of neurological symptoms and AFM is one of the few conditions that can follow a viral infection. For the AFM to be confirmed, the doctor must determine if the spinal cord is affected.

The CDC has a list of tests to run to confirm a case.

"All suspected cases are sent to the CDC for review by their neurologists," said Lara Anton of the Texas State Department's Department of Health. Texas has confirmed eight cases of MFA this year.

"It takes them about a month to review a case and make the decision of the AFM," Anton said.

"A few cases currently in the focus of this process are not reflected in the official count of cases. All cases in Texas, except one, are children.

Alabama is also studying two possible cases. "We have not yet completed our own investigations to confirm that this is the AFM, so we have not reported back to the CDC," said Sherri Davidson, an epidemiologist in the state of Alabama . "It may take a month or two because there is a lot of documentation to go through and a panel of experts to be examined."

Health officials will never know the number of cases of AFM because not all states require doctors to report these cases.

South Carolina, for example, does not require doctors to report cases, although clusters of cases – several occurring at the same time in the same area – would be reported, said Tommy Crosby of the Department of Health and Human Rights. State Environmental Control or DHEC.

"Providers often consult with DHEC when they suspect the AFM as complicating an infectious disease," Crosby said.

AFM is very similar to polio.

"The patient's symptoms are very similar to the complications of infection with certain viruses, including polioviruses, non-polio enteroviruses, adenoviruses, and West Nile virus," says the CDC.

Other viruses have also been associated with cases, including one called EV-A71. EV-D68 and EV-A71 are enteroviruses and are distant relatives of polio.

New York reports an epidemic of EV-D68, with 39 cases reported, and two suspected cases of AFM.

"The EV-D68 infection usually causes mild symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, coughing, body aches and pains," the state health department said in a statement.

"Severe symptoms, although less common, may include wheezing and difficulty breathing. In rare cases, the virus can cause flaccid acute myelitis (AM), a serious condition resulting in weakness of the arms or legs. However, there are other causes of AFM in addition to EV-D68 and serious respiratory diseases are a major concern with this virus. "

The virus that caused polio was eradicated in most countries of the world by vaccination, but regular epidemics have already swept the country, paralyzing thousands of children. Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two countries where wild poliovirus has been observed this year, as conflict makes it difficult for all children to be vaccinated.

In the United States, "the increase in the number of AFD cases in 2014 coincided with a national outbreak of severe respiratory disease caused by enterovirus D68 (EV-D68). Among those confirmed with AFM, the CDC did not consistently detect EV-D68 in all patients, the CDC said.

There are no vaccines against EV-D68 or EV-A71.

Since 2014, cases have increased and decreased. The CDC reported 120 cases of AFM in 2014, 22 cases in 2015, 149 cases in 2016 and 33 cases in 2017.

"Surveillance has shown us that AFM cases generally reach their peak in September and October," the Nevada State Department of Health said in a newsletter sent to health care providers in New York. August.

"A bi-annual trend has been observed, with the majority of cases reported in 2014 and 2016, and fewer reported in 2015 and 2017. If this trend continues, we should expect an increase in the number of AMF cases. in 2018. "

The CDC recommends washing your hands regularly and thoroughly to protect against bacterial and viral infections in general.