Concerns rise as cases of mysterious polio-like disease in US increase

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently put out a warning regarding a mysterious polio-like disease called acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) that has been affecting children in the US in recent years.

Much like polio, acute flaccid myelitis also affects the body’s nervous system, specifically the spinal cord, which could result in paralysis.

The CDC saw the first spike in cases in August 2014 and by the end of the year, 120 people from 34 US states were diagnosed with AFM. In 2015, there were only 21 reported cases from 16 states.

But a sharp rise in AFM cases has been seen again this year, with 50 cases already confirmed across 24 states. This rise in confirmed AFM cases is causing concern among experts regarding an outbreak that may be worse than what was seen before. Most of those affected are children.

According to Dr. Manisha Patel, AFM team lead at CDC and a practicing pediatrician, symptoms may include limb weakness, facial drooping and difficulty swallowing and talking.

The disease also shows a wide spectrum of severity, according to Dr. Kevin Messacar, a pediatric infectious disease physician and researcher at Children’s Hospital Colorado. On one end, those affected only experienced mild weakness while on the other end, there are children who have lost the ability to breathe on their own, and exhibit complete paralysis in their arms and legs.

The exact cause of the rare condition is also still unknown though scientists are pointing to viral infections such as the Enterovirus, poliovirus, and West Nile virus.

There is also no vaccine or cure against AFM yet. Current treatments only focus on alleviating symptoms.

In the meantime, healthcare practitioners and the general public are urged to practice “general prevention strategies” such as washing hands with soap and water, staying up to date with vaccinations, and protecting yourself from mosquito bites.

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