Two cases of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) have been reported in Wisconsin this year by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Division of Public Health.
AFM is a serious condition similar to polio which targets the nervous system, causing limb weakness and slower reflexes. It is mostly found in children and does not seem to be communicable from human to human. Causes may include poliovirus or non-polio enteroviruses, West Nile Virus, and adenoviruses.
The CDC has seen an uptick in cases since 2014, when it first became a public concern. There are 72 confirmed cases of AFM across 24 states in 2018 with a spike in cases every other year which may be related to EV-D68, a non-polio enterovirus that causes cold-like symptoms. However, the cause is undetermined for most of these cases despite tests and further research is needed.
AFM remains a very rare condition with less than 1 million cases each year. Some who are affected are able to recover with therapy, but others continue to have paralysis.
Contact a doctor as soon as possible if you notice in your child: sudden arm or leg weakness, loss of muscle strength and reflexes, facial drooping, difficulty moving eyes, trouble swallowing, slurred speech, and loss of appetite.
Health officials recommend washing hands and staying up-to-date on vaccinations. Further information about AFM can be found on the CDC website at this link.
