OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — A rare polio-like illness affecting children has been confirmed in Nebraska for the first time.
According to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services a child in the Sarpy or Cass county area was hospitalized with Acute Flaccid Myelitis and later released. The CDC investigated another report of AFM in Douglas county and determined that patient met some, but not all of the criteria to be a confirmed AFM case. One additional suspected case also in the Sarpy/Cass Health Department jurisdiction is undergoing further testing at the CDC.
"AFM is a rare but serious condition that affects mostly children and we've been watching closely for cases in Nebraska over the last four years," said Dr. Tom Safranek, state epidemiologist for DHHS. "There is still a lot to learn about AFM and more study is needed. State and local health departments nationwide are working with federal partners to investigate cases and the possible causes."
AFM is a condition that causes muscle weakness. From August 2014 through October 2018, there have been a total of 440 confirmed cases of AFM in the U.S.
