A mysterious polio-like illness is paralysing children in 22 US states, CDC says
The causes of acute flaccid myelitis are unknown, and no specific cure has been developed
Federal health officials are worried about an increase in a mysterious and rare condition that mostly affects children and can paralyse arms and legs, with 127 confirmed or suspected cases reported as of Tuesday.
Of those, 62 cases of acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM, have been confirmed in 22 states, according to Nancy Messonnier, a top official at the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 90 per cent of the confirmed cases have been in children 18 and under, with the average age being four years old.
There is no specific treatment for the polio-like disorder, and long-term outcomes are unknown. The rare but serious disorder affects a person’s nervous system, specifically the spinal cord. Neurological conditions like it can have a variety of causes, such as viruses, environmental toxins and genetic disorders.
There is a lot we don’t know about AFM, and I am frustrated that despite all of our efforts, we haven’t been able to identify the cause of this mystery illness.
The increase in cases has been happening since 2014, with the number of cases spiking in August and September, she said in a news briefing with reporters. One child with the disorder died in 2017. Officials have been baffled by the increase, and are starting to count suspected cases as well as confirmed ones to better anticipate increases in confirmed cases over the coming months.
“We understand that people, particularly parents, are concerned about AFM,” she said. Despite extensive laboratory and other testing, CDC has been unable to find the cause for the majority of the cases. “There is a lot we don’t know about AFM, and I am frustrated that despite all of our efforts, we haven’t been able to identify the cause of this mystery illness.
“We know this can be frightening for parents, and I know many parents want to know what signs and symptoms they should be looking out for in their children,” she said. Parents should seek medical care immediately if their child develops sudden weakness or loss of muscle tone in the arms and legs.
Some patients diagnosed with this condition have recovered quickly but others continue to have paralysis and require ongoing care, she said.
