Mysterious Polio-Like Disease Causing Paralysis in Children

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A "polio-like" disease has now infected people in 31 states – including New York – and it's worrying federal health officials who say the rare disease has sickened at least 116 people, mostly children, in recent months.

Just two months ago, the number of people sickened by acute flaccid myelitis(AFM) in the United States was 38, and the disease impacted 16 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Acute flaccid myelitis has sickened two people in New York this year. Both confirmed cases were in New York City.

On Tuesday, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, called on Congress to immediately provide emergency funding for research, treatment, and prevention efforts against the disease.

“As a mother and as a senator, I am taking AFM extremely seriously,"Gillibrand said. "I’ve been disturbed to read reports about this debilitating disease that has been affecting children in New York and across the country. Parents are extremely worried about what this disease means for their children, but doctors still don’t know what causes AFM or how it spreads."

In New York and elsewhere, most of the cases have happened within the past four months, according to the CDC and health officials from various states.

Texas has the most number of cases – 14 – while Pennsylvania has eight.

This condition is not new, but the increase in cases the CDC has seen starting in 2014 is new, the agency says.

Most people will have sudden onset of arm or leg weakness and loss of muscle tone and reflexes. Some people, in addition to arm or leg weakness, will have:

  • facial droop/weakness,

  • difficulty moving the eyes,

  • drooping eyelids, or

  • difficulty with swallowing or slurred speech.

Numbness or tingling is rare in people with AFM, although some people have pain in their arms or legs. Some people with AFM may be unable to pass urine, according to the CDC.

The most severe symptom of AFM is respiratory failure that can happen when the muscles involved with breathing become weak. This can require urgent ventilator support. In very rare cases, it is possible that the process in the body that triggers AFM may also trigger other serious neurologic complications that could lead to death, according to the CDC.

If you or your child develops any of these symptoms, you should seek medical care right away. Your doctor may collect information about your symptoms and send this information to their health departments.

AFM or similar neurologic conditions may have a variety of possible causes such as viruses, environmental toxins, and genetic disorders. Certain viruses that can cause AFM or similar neurologic conditions are:

There is no specific treatment for AFM, but a doctor who specializes in treating brain and spinal cord illnesses may recommend certain interventions on a case-by-case basis, according to the CDC.

For more information on what CDC is doing, see the AFM Investigation page.

Here is more about the illness:

YouTube photo/video

Reporting by Tom Davis