Acute Flaccid Myelitis

As today marks WorldPolioDay we have been hearing about acute flaccidmyelitis in the news affecting school age children.

There are 155 cases of AFM currently being investigated by cdcgov, of these 62 have been confirmed. Children ages 1-18 have been affected initially in the Colorado area, now in 22 states. The condition affects the nervous system, specifically spinal cord with symptoms including facial drooping, difficulty with speech and swallowing, or sudden weakness in the arm or leg.

A virus known as enterovirus 68 may be linked, in the polio virus family. 
Severe neurological symptoms are being treated with supportive measures. In some cases respiratory failure occurs with ventilator dependence. There is no known cure so far. Let’s stay on top of the latest information at www.myelitis.org.