Six Minn. children diagnosed with rare disorder
59 views · Published 13 October 2018 · 3:07 · Indexed 5 October 2026
Channel: AP Archive · 2018 · News & Politics
(8 Oct 2018) US health officials are telling doctors to be on the lookout for a rare disorder that causes paralysis after six Minnesota children were diagnosed with the disease in recent weeks. The disorder is called acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM. It attacks the nervous system and can lead to arm or leg weakness and loss of muscle reflexes. "It can be very severe, but I think on thing that's important to keep in mind is that it is rare," says Kris Ehresmann, director for infectious diseases at the Minnesota Department of Health. Ehresmann says AFM affects less than one in a million children. Its origins are a mystery, but officials say a virus can cause some cases. Practices such as regular hand-washing are recommended. The six Minnesota children are all 10 and younger and are in the Twin Cities, central and northeastern Minnesota. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/5664dafa2b874a539e81b9eab9657522
