CDC confirms deadly, ‘polio-like illness’ is acute flaccid myelitis
Nov 4, 2016, 4:43 PM
Nine children were admitted to Seattle Children’s Hospital with acute neurological illnesses and the State Department of Health is investigating the possibility of acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM, a rare condition that affects the nervous system. (KIRO 7)
(KIRO 7)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed acute flaccid myelitis in eight of the nine kids admitted to Seattle Children’s hospital with polio-like symptoms.
AFM is a rare condition that affects the nervous system, specifically the spinal cord. All eight children ranging in age from 3 to 14 had a loss of strength or movement in one or more arms or legs with a range of types and severity of symptoms.
Related: Mother of boy who had mysterious symptoms speaks out
Doctors say the syndrome is not contagious.
The boy who was exhibiting symptoms before he died was unable to cry, his mother says.
Marijo Deguzman told KIRO 7 her son, Daniel, was taken off life support on Monday.
“He woke up, and looked at me. And he started crying. But his tear ducts, he couldn’t cry,” Deguzman told CBS. “His brain wasn’t letting him cry.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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