Over the last few years a mysterious polio-like illness has been striking children across the United States. California and Colorado have been especially hard hit.
Reports of the Polio-Like Illness Are Increasing:
The disease starts with flu-like symptoms but rapidly turns into muscle paralysis. Doctors have dubbed this condition AFM, which stands for acute flaccid myelitis. After the respiratory symptoms subside, some kids are left with long-term nerve damage that makes it hard to move arms or legs. In the worst cases, breathing is also affected.
That progression of symptoms was also true of polio, though a strong vaccination campaign has essentially eliminated polio in the U.S. (It continues to be a threat in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria despite a global eradication effort.)
Nationally, the CDC says there have been 89 cases of AFM this year, a dramatic increase from 21 cases in 2015. More than a third of this year’s cases were diagnosed in September.
New Cases in Washington:
Now a new cluster of cases in Washington state has public health officials alarmed. One six-year-old child has died and eight others have been affected. The youngster who died was initially hospitalized with cold symptoms and dizziness but quickly developed paralysis.
Could an Enterovirus Be Causing the Polio-Like Illness?
Doctors have not yet identified the cause of AFM, but some speculate that it may be triggered by an enterovirus called D68. To date there is no vaccine or treatment for this scary condition.
