Accute Flaccid Myelitis

Accute Flaccid Myelitis is a paralyzing disease causing some parents to worry. 

Nebraska has now seen two cases, neither confirmed as AFM though. 

Nebraska Medicine is investigating the two cases and held a news conference about it.

AFM appears to be a polio-like illness. There has been more than 60 confirmed reports of AFM in 22 states, but all tests have come back negative for polio. 

Dr. Mark Rupp, professor of infectious diseases says, “It’s a mysterious disease but luckily it’s very rare, so less than one in a million people are getting this in our country.”

There is no known cause or cure for AFM. It has only come in clusters since 2014. 

Dr. Kari Simonsen, Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases says, “Because we’ve only been studying these cases for the past few years, we don’t have long term outcomes yet, and so, as we monitor those patients over time, we’ll get a better understanding of how many of them recover completely and in what time frame.”

Nebraska Medicine is working with public health and the CDC to learn more about AFM. 

https://www.cdc.gov/acute-flaccid-myelitis/