US: Mysterious paralyzing illness found in 22 states

US health officials reported a jump in cases of a rare paralyzing illness in children, and said it seems to be following an every-other-year pattern. At least 62 cases have been confirmed in 22 states this year, and at least 65 additional illnesses in those states are being investigated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Similar waves of the same illness occurred in 2014 and 2016. CDC officials say they haven't found the cause. "I think the most dramatic finding is the sudden onset of weakness of one or more limbs. And that is not a subtle or minor presentation. It's an arm or a leg that suddenly becomes very weak and can't be used normally," said Dr. Kari Simonsen, Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease, University of Nebraska Medical Center. "I don't think parents should have undue concern right now. It's good to become informed about things that are going on nationally and potentially impacting our communities like AFM, but cases are very rare," said Simonsen. Some possible suspects, such as polio and West Nile virus, have been ruled out. Another kind of virus is suspected, but it's been found in only some of the cases. Health officials call the condition acute flaccid myelitis. The CDC would not release a list of the states reporting probable or confirmed cases. About 90 percent of the cases are children who have suffered muscle weakness or paralysis, including in the face, neck, back or limbs. The symptoms tend to occur about a week after they had a fever and respiratory illness. "Some of the cases that have been followed longitudinally do appear to have longer term sequelae, meaning that some of these children have remained paralyzed for the follow up period of sometimes years," said Dr. Mark Rupp, Infectious diseases specialist with Nebraska Medicine. "On the other hand other kids recover completely. So it's a mysterious disease, very rare and there's a lot that we don't understand about this."