LANSING - The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced on Tuesday that two more cases of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) have been confirmed in Michigan children.
One child in Ottawa County and one in Macomb County have been diagnosed with the polio-like virus.
AFM, is a rare condition that affects the spine and can cause weakness of the arms and legs, as well as neurological damage. It primarily affects children.
The first case in Michigan was confirmed by health officials on Dec. 5 and it involved a child in Wayne County. A second case was documented in Oakland County on Dec. 12.
There are five suspected cases of AFM in Michigan that are under investigation, and one case was ruled not to be AFM by the Centers for Disease Control.
The CDC has confirmed 165 cases of AFM in 36 states. Symptoms include weakness and loss of muscle tone and reflexes in the arms or legs, facial droop or weakness, difficulty moving the eyes, drooping eyelids, difficulty swallowing and slurred speech.
The cause or trigger for AFM is still unknown. The CDC recommends these steps to protect yourself or your children from the illness:
- Getting vaccinated against poliovirus, which is one of the viruses known to cause AFM. However, this vaccine does not protect against other viruses that may cause AFM.
- Protecting yourself from bites from mosquitos, which can carry West Nile Virus, another cause of AFM, by using mosquito repellents, staying indoors at dawn and dusk and removing standing or stagnant water near your home.
- Washing your hands often with soap and water and avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
More information about AFM can be found the on the CDC's website.
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