APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – A rare disease is causing paralysis across the country and some cases have sprung up in Wisconsin.
The disease is called Acute Flaccid Myelitis, or AFM, and is similar to polio. There have been 400 cases in the country since 2014, with 62 coming this year alone and 2 in Wisconsin.
“One of them is from the southern region and one is from the southeastern region,” says Susann Ahrabi-Fard, with the Dept. of Health Services
She explains that’s there’s still a lot unknown.
“We don’t always even get the cause from the majority of these diseases,” she says. “It’s challenging to even know about this disease because there’s so many unanswered questions.”
Ahrabi-Fard explains what some of the symptoms could include.
“Arms and legs may become weak and get weaker and weaker and they might have no movement,” says Ahrabi-Ford.
Often times symptoms can start with a simple respiratory cold and progress into something much more serious, such as facial drooping.
Many of these cases are found in individuals 18-years-old or younger, which has parents concerned.
Linda Alger from Appleton had a cousin crippled by a similar disease in the 1950’s. She thinks it’s imperative that parents take steps to protect their children.
“Good hand washing is very helpful and parents should think about doing it for themselves and their children,” she says.
Doctors agree that good hygiene is important to fight against contracting the virus and also add that getting a polio vaccination is a good idea.
Over 120 AFM cases are being investigated across the country, according to the Department of Health Services.
