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A rare polio-like disease that can cause paralysis has been reported in 22 states. The CDC has confirmed 62 cases of acute flaccid myelitis, and another 65 children may also be affected. According to the transcript of a recent phone report, CDC officials say that flaccid acute myelitis (AFM) is a rare but serious condition that affects the nervous system. "It specifically affects the area of the spinal cord called gray matter and causes weakening of muscles and reflexes," said Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. Messonnier encouraged parents to "seek immediate medical attention if you or your child develop sudden weakness or loss of muscle tone in the arms and legs".
CBS News reports that AFM can cause paralysis and is characterized by a sudden onset of limb weakness, as well as a loss of muscle tone and reflexes. CBS stated that, according to the CDC, none of the children infected with AFM have the polio virus – which was eliminated in the United States via polio vaccine – even though the symptoms seem similar. CNN writes that the average age of all MMA patients in just four years, while more than 90% of confirmed cases so far, have occurred in children 18 years old and younger. Although AFM is a debilitating disease, no deaths have been reported this year. An AFM-related death was however reported in 2017, according to CNN.
The Washington Post notes that the sudden rise in the number of MFA cases is disconcerting for public health officials. Parents are urged to seek medical attention immediately if their child or a family member develops symptoms, and for doctors to report cases to the CDC as soon as possible. "The CDC has actively studied the AFM, tested samples and monitored [the] since 2014, when we saw a first increase in the number of cases. The number of cases reported during this period in 2018 is similar to that reported in the fall of 2014 and 2016, "said Dr. Messonnier at the CDC press conference. CBS News notes that, despite the slight rise in recent cases, MFA is a very rare disease and affects less than one in a million people in the United States each year.
CAS also writes that health officials do not know what causes AFM, but increases appear to be reaching their peak in late summer and fall. A number of viral diseases can contribute to the development of the AFM, including adenoviruses, enteroviruses and West Nile virus, although none has been linked to West Nile virus this year , note CBS.
"It's really a mysterious disease," Dr. Messonnier told CBS. "In fact, we do not know what is causing this increase. For some of the previous cases, we have identified one pathogen or another, but we have no unifying diagnosis. "
The CDC is also investigating who is most at risk for AFM infection, as well as the long-term impact of the disease. Some patients with AFM recover completely, while others suffer from persistent muscle weakness. There is still no targeted treatment for AFM, but doctors can prescribe a physical or professional therapy to strengthen the arms and legs, CBS added.
For the moment, parents are urged to be aware of the symptoms of AFM, to consult a doctor immediately and to observe any symptoms in their children, and to prevent the virus as much as possible by washing their hands frequently, by getting regular information against the disease and avoiding mosquitoes bite as much as possible.
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