Health officials are asking doctors to be on the lookout for children with a rare, polio-like illness after six cases were reported in Minnesota since September 20th. Symptoms of A-F-M include sudden weakness in an arm or leg, and loss of muscular reflexes. Kris Ehresmann with the state Health Department advises parents, “Any kind of acute muscle weakness in their kids, in arms and legs, that obviously doesn’t have anything to do with spraining your ankle at soccer, that definitely they should seek medical attention.”
Ehresman says it’s unknown what causes A-F-M but people should observe good hygiene and be sure vaccinations are up-to-date. She says A-F-M is serious but rare, affecting about one in a million people.