5 Cases Of 'Polio-Like' Illness Suspected In Maryland: Report

MARYLAND — A "polio-like" illness that has appeared in multiple states around the country is suspected in Maryland. Acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM, is a rare neurological condition that causes the sudden onset of arm or leg weakness. AFM affects the gray matter area of the spinal cord, resulting in loss of muscle tone, weakening limbs and diminishing reflexes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There have been 62 confirmed cases in 22 states across the U.S. so far this year, concentrated in the past two months, the CDC reported Tuesday. Maryland health officials are investigating a handful of suspected cases.

Five cases of possible AFM have been reported in Maryland since Sept. 21, the Washington Post reported on Tuesday, Oct. 16.

The CDC doesn’t list the states where AFM has been confirmed, but CNN's survey of state health departments reveal it has been confirmed in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin.

Also according to CNN, it's suspected in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Washington.

Most cases occur in children, authorities report. Still, the condition is "very rare," according to the CDC, which says less than one in a million people nationwide get it each year.

In addition to arm or leg weakness, officials said sufferers may have these symptoms:

• Facial droop or weakness
• Slurred speech or difficulty swallowing
• Difficulty moving the eyes
• Drooping eyelids

Some people who suffer from the disease may be unable to urinate, according to the CDC.

The most severe symptom of AFM is respiratory failure, which happens when the muscles involved with breathing become weak and may require a ventilator. In very rare cases, the process in the body that triggers AFM may also bring on other serious neurological complications that can lead to death, according to the CDC.

If experiencing any of these symptoms, people should seek medical care, health officials advise.

Complications from AFM are "incredibly rare" and "overall, the rate of AFM since 2014 is less than one in a million," Director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases Dr. Nancy Messonnier said. Still, it’s important to see a doctor right away if there are any symptoms of limb weakness.

"AFM is a rare condition. It's also a serious condition. So we want to encourage parents to seek medical care right away if you or your child develop symptoms of AFM such as sudden weakness or paralysis of the arms and legs," Messonnier said.

The average age of the children who have gotten sick this year is about 4. The cases the federal health agency has been studying since 2014 involved children 18 and younger, Messonnier said.

So far, officials haven’t found a common link among the reported illnesses, which can develop after a viral infection, according to Messonnier.

“There is a lot we don't know about AFM,” Messonnier told reporters in a conference call Tuesday. “I am frustrated that despite all of our efforts, we haven't been able to identify the cause of this mystery illness.”

There is no specific treatment for AFM, but specialists may recommend certain interventions on a case-by-case basis. Diagnosis involves pictures of the spinal cord and nervous system examination.

As a preventive measure, health officials advise people to stay up-to-date on their vaccines, wash their hands and protect themselves from mosquito bites.

The symptoms of AFM are similar to these illnesses:

• Poliovirus and non-polio enteroviruses
• West Nile virus and viruses in that family (Japanese encephalitis virus, Saint Louis encephalitis virus)
• Adenoviruses

For more information on what CDC is doing, see the AFM Investigation page.

With reporting from Patch editors Tom Davis, Shannon Antinori and Beth Dalbey.

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