A rare polio-like disease that’s seen an increase across the country has been found in three children in North Carolina and one in South Carolina.
According to WBTV, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says one of the cases of Acute Flaccid Myelitis, or AFM, is in Huntersville. AFM can result from a series of viral infections and targets the spinal cord. Its symptoms include a sudden weakness in the arms and legs. There are different possible causes for AFM such as viruses, genetic disorders or environmental factors.
There is no cure for the disease but some patients have been given IV’s or steroids to help. The CDC says viruses like West Nile and poliovirus may lead to conditions found in AFM. The organization stresses the importance of having all polio vaccines up to date and to wear mosquito repellent when outdoors.
There are nearly 130 cases across the country of AFM. The CDC says the disease is not new but they have seen cases increase since 2014. The average age of AFM patients is around 4 years old.