Cause Of Polio-Like Illness In Children Continues To Stump Experts Even As Dozens Of More Cases Emerge

“What we do know is that these patients had fever and respiratory symptoms three to 10 days before their limb weakness,” CDC’s Dr. Nancy Messonnier said. “And we know that it’s the season where lots of people have fever and respiratory symptoms. What we need to sort out is what is the trigger for the [acute flaccid myelitis].”

The Associated Press: More US Kids Get Paralyzing Illness, Cause Is Still Unknown More children have been diagnosed with a mysterious paralyzing illness in recent weeks, and U.S. health officials said Tuesday that they still aren’t sure what’s causing it. This year’s count could surpass the tallies seen in similar outbreaks in 2014 and 2016, officials said. Fortunately, the disease remains rare: This year, there have been 90 cases spread among 27 states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. (11/13)

NPR: CDC: Acute Flaccid Myelitis Cases Rise To 90 In U.S. The illness usually starts as a fever and seemingly routine respiratory symptoms. But in some cases — between three and 10 days later — children suddenly suffer paralysis. The cause of the condition remains a mystery. But officials say there is a possibility it is being caused by a virus that affects the digestive system known as an enterovirus, though that remains just a theory. (Stein, 11/13)READ the entire article here