The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned that we may soon see a peak in acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), a polio-like condition that affects the nervous system and primarily affects children. According to healthline, this is rising. The disease has increased every two years since 2014 and the number of cases has increased with each outbreak, as has the number of affected states.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) experts advise health care providers to look for signs of a potential outbreak starting late summer and early fall 2020.
For his part, Director of the Center for Disease Control, Dr. Robert Redfield, said in a report: “As we approach these crucial coming months, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are taking the necessary steps to help doctors better recognize the signs and symptoms of paralytic disorder in children.”
The CDC and public health partners have strengthened early detection systems for disease, a vital step towards rapid treatment and rehabilitation for children with AFM. ”
While the cause is still unknown, a recent study discovered strong evidence that a type of virus called enterovirus D68 causes AFM.
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