Washington state
investigating possible cluster of rare condition
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[November 02, 2016]
(Reuters) - A possible cluster of
cases of acute flaccid myelitis, a rare condition that causes weakness
or paralysis in children, is being investigated in King County,
Washington, the state health department said on Tuesday.
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King County, the state's largest county, encompasses Seattle.
An additional possible case of AFM, which affects the central
nervous system, brings the total number of confirmed or suspected
cases to nine, a spokeswoman for the Washington State Department of
Health said in a statement.
Two of the nine have been confirmed as suffering from AFM, the
department said, with seven still being evaluated. One child has
died, although it was not clear if he or she had the condition.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
website, cases of the rare disorder have been on the rise this year,
with 89 confirmed cases in 33 states as of September.
Last year, there were only 21 cases of the disorder, a mild year
that followed a major outbreak in 2014, when 120 people were
reported to have developed the polio-like nerve condition from
August to December.
AFM is characterized by a sudden onset of limb weakness and loss of
muscle tone and reflexes. Some patients also suffer facial droop or
difficulty moving the eyes or swallowing.
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It is believed to stem from a variety of causes, including viral
infections.
(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Leslie Adler)
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