Second case of rare disease resembling confirmed polio in Florida



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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A Florida state health official has confirmed that a new case of flaccid acute myelitis was being investigated, compared to a single one week ago.

The disease is called polio-like, affecting the nervous system of a person. It can paralyze a child's arms or legs. Nick Van Der Linden, acting spokesman for the Florida Department of Health, said he could not disclose additional information, unless a second case is not enough. was discovered this year.

More: Scientists seek answers to AFM, a disease causing polio-like paralysis in children

"Doctors are only required to report the true cases of polio in Florida," Linden said. "Several related viruses belonging to the enterovirus family may be at the origin of this type of clinical presentation.This year, two cases were the subject of an investigation.Because of their rarity , we do not communicate location or identification information. "

A 3-year-old girl from Jacksonville became the first case of acute flaccid myelitis or MAF in Florida. Reba Faircloth, said her mother, was generally energetic but suddenly lost sensation in her arms and legs. She was placed in an intensive care unit at the Wolfson Children's Hospital in mid-October.

The AFM is known to peak in the summer and early fall, with at least 60 confirmed cases in 22 states this year.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is difficult to diagnose a disease because it resembles a disease such as poliovirus, West Nile virus and other adenoviruses. But the worst cases "are undeniable," Kevin Messacar, a specialist in infectious diseases in children, told USA Today.

In these situations, children can not move and do not seem to get better, which requires immediate medical attention.

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© 2018 WTSP

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