CDC: 201 confirmed cases of polio-like disease in 40 states

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has posted a map showing as of Jan. 18 which states have confirmed cases to date for 2018 of the polio-like disease acute flaccid myelitis.  (CDC graphic)

There are 201 confirmed cases of the polio-like disease acute flaccid myelitis in 40 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's most recent data for 2018.

This makes 2018 the year with the highest number of confirmed cases in the most states since the CDC began tracking the disease as a result of 120 AFM cases being reported to it from 34 states between August through December 2014.

The 201 confirmed cases to date in 2018 are among a total of 364 reports of patients under investigation for the difficult-to-diagnosis disease that often begins as a respiratory illness and later manifests as a weakness in the limbs that can result in paralysis.

The CDC, which has been giving weekly updates since October, said on its website Jan. 21, "Due to a decline in reports of patients under investigation for AFM, CDC will be updating the case counts bi-weekly starting January 21, 2019."

At the beginning of January, there were 193 confirmed cases in 39 states. This was among a total of 349 reports the CDC had received of patients under investigation for the disease that is most common in children.

Massachusetts has four confirmed cases for 2018 to date. The newest state to add its first case is Utah.

States with no confirmed cases to date in 2018 include Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon, Vermont and West Virginia as well as the District of Columbia.

States with some of the highest number of confirmed cases include Texas with 25, Ohio, 13, and California and New Jersey with 10 each.

The new data means there are now 527 confirmed cases of AFM in 46 states and the District of Columbia since 2014. The case counts represent only those cases for which information has been sent to and confirmed by CDC.

According to the CDC, it received:

          The CDC describes AFM, which is currently diagnosed partly through MRI to detect lesions in grey matter in the spine, as a "rare but serious condition" that "affects the nervous system, specifically the area of the spinal cord called gray matter, which causes the muscles and reflexes in the body to become weak."

          The CDC has noted that many patients with AFM had onset of symptoms between August and October when many viruses begin to circulate and the number of confirmed cases seems to increase every other year.

          The disease itself is not considered infectious to others, but the viruses in circulation that may be associated with it are contagious and proper hygiene is urged to avoid spreading them and parents are advised to have their children current with recommended vaccinations.

          The CDC has said efforts are ongoing to both better diagnosed as well as confirmed the cause of AFM and thus better treat the disease for which there is no established clinical management.

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