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Six Minnesota kids suffer rare, polio-like disorder

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  • Six Minnesota kids suffer rare, polio-like disorder

    Source: http://www.startribune.com/six-minne...der/495281011/


    Six Minnesota kids suffer rare, polio-like disorder
    By Jeremy Olson Star Tribune
    October 5, 2018 — 8:06pm

    State health officials have issued an alert to doctors after six Minnesota children were diagnosed with a rare, polio-like disorder that causes reduced mobility or paralysis in the arms and legs.

    All six cases of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) have been reported since Sep. 20, prompting the Minnesota Department of Health to ask doctors to be on the lookout for the disorder, which has severe consequences but mysterious origins.

    "It is very rare and it is certainly something we're taking very seriously," said Kris Ehresmann, who directs the Health Department's infectious disease section. "It's a very devastating situation" for the children and their families, she said...

    ...AFM came to the attention of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2014 after clusters of cases were discovered in Colorado and California and linked to the spread of a type of virus known as EV-D68. States have since reported 362 cases, some with no viral presence and some that seemed linked to other West Nile-type viruses.

    The six Minnesota children, all 10 and younger, were hospitalized due to their conditions. They come from the Twin Cities, central Minnesota and northeastern Minnesota. Several of the parents contacted the Star Tribune directly, hoping that news coverage would prompt parents to take precautions and doctors and hospitals to identify the condition quickly when they encounter it.

    Ehresmann said she hopes that closer study of the children — and any other cases uncovered through the latest alert to doctors — could uncover causes.
    "We're looking into any kind of commonality, but at this point … we don't have anything to wrap up in a bow," she said.
    The cases aren't even verified by lab test results. Ehresmman said it's the "constellation of symptoms" that ties them together...

  • #2
    News Release

    October 5, 2018

    Contact information

    Statement on cases of acute flaccid myelitis

    The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) issued the following statement today regarding reported cases of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) in six children around the state over the last few weeks. AFM is a rare but potentially severe condition that can arise following an infection, and in some cases it can lead to death, paralysis or other long-term health impacts.

    The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is investigating six cases of a rare condition called acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) that occurred since mid-September in Minnesota children.

    AFM is a rare but serious condition that affects the nervous system, causing muscles to weaken. It can be a complication following a viral infection, but environmental and genetic factors may also contribute to its development. AFM symptoms include sudden muscle weakness in the arms or legs, sometimes following a respiratory illness. Other symptoms may include:
    • Neck weakness or stiffness
    • Drooping eyelids or a facial droop.
    • Difficulty swallowing or slurred speech.
    MDH disease investigators are working aggressively with health care providers to gather information about the cases. The department is also in contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to share information.

    For reasons not fully understood, AFM affects mainly children. All recent Minnesota cases have been in children under 10 years old and all were hospitalized. Cases have been reported from the Twin Cities, central Minnesota and northeastern Minnesota.
    There was a national uptick in AFM cases in 2014. Disease investigators believe this was linked to an outbreak of a respiratory illness in children that was caused by a virus known as enterovirus D 68 (EVD68). Minnesota saw three AFM cases that year.
    Since then, we have typically seen less than one case a year.


    Since AFM can develop as a result of a viral infection, MDH recommends parents and children take basic steps to avoid infections and stay healthy:
    • Wash your hands frequently to limit your exposure to germs.
    • Cover your cough or sneeze.
    • Stay home if you are sick.
    • Stay up to date on vaccinations.
    • Protect yourself and children from mosquito bites if you’re spending time outside.
    If parents see potential symptoms of AFM in their child, (for example, if he or she is not using an arm) they should contact their health care provider as soon as possible. AFM can be diagnosed by examining a person’s nervous system, taking an MRI scan and testing the cerebral spinal fluid. It is important that tests are done as soon as possible after someone develops symptoms.
    While there is no specific treatment for AFM, doctors may recommend certain interventions on a case-by-case basis.


    -MDH-
    Media inquiries: Doug Schultz
    MDH Communications
    651-201-4993

    doug.schultz@state.mn.us

    http://www.health.state.mn.us/news/p...tis100518.html
    "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
    -Nelson Mandela

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