CDC warns of new outbreak of acute flaccid myelitis

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Reference

Kidd S, Lopez A, Nix WA, et al. Vital Signs: Clinical characteristics of patients with confirmed acute flaccid myelitis, United States, 2018. CDC. 2020; available at: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6931e3.htm?s_cid=mm6931e3_w

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Clinicians should be on the lookout for acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) in children, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned.

Clinicians should be especially vigilant when acute flaccid limb weakness is accompanied by neck and back pain, as well a recent history of febrile respiratory illness.

The United States has been tracking AFM since 2014 and an increase in cases has been reported every 2 years, according to a Vital Signs released by the CDC. Most cases happen during late summer and early fall.