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A virus affects the grey matter of the brain and spinal cord causing muscular weakness and loss of reflexes. While it is similar to polio, it is a different virus that simply has similar affects on the body.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

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Acute Flaccid Myelitis: What Healthcare Providers Need to Know In 2020

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The majority of patients have sudden onset limb weakness and loss of muscle reflexes. Other less common symptoms include drooping face, difficulty swallowing and slurring of speech.

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Acute Flaccid Myelitis is caused by a virus. The virus is not usually transferred from person to person directly. It is believed that a vector like a mosquito is the primary reason for spread.

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What is acute flaccid myelitis?

Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is a condition that affects the nervous system, specifically the spinal cord. Most patients have sudden onset of limb (arm and leg) weakness. AFM is thought to be caused by infections with different types of viruses. The infections most commonly mentioned with AFM include polio or West Nile virus and related infections. Most patients with AFM have a respiratory illness or fever before their limbs are affected. Other causes of AFM are still being explored and may include environmental toxins or genetic disorders.
Who gets AFM?
Anyone of any age can get AFM, but it is more commonly reported in children.
How is AFM spread?
AFM is not spread from person to person. The viruses that are believed to cause AFM may be contagious from one person to another or may be spread by a mosquito or other vector depending on which virus causes the AFM.
What are the symptoms of AFM?
Most patients will have sudden onset of limb weakness and loss of muscle tone and reflexes. In addition, some patients will experience:

facial droop/weakness,

difficulty moving the eyes,

drooping eyelids, or

difficulty with swallowing or slurred speech.

Numbness or tingling is rare in patients with AFM, though some people have pain in their arms or legs. Some patients with AFM may be unable to urinate. The most severe symptom of AFM is respiratory failure, which happens when the muscles involved with breathing become weak. This can require urgent ventilator (breathing machine) support.
How soon after exposure do symptoms appear?
The incubation period and time until symptom development depend on which virus is causing the illness.
How is AFM diagnosed?
A doctor can tell the difference between AFM and other diseases with a careful examination of the nervous system, looking at the location of the weakness, muscle tone, and reflexes. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be very helpful in diagnosing cases of AFM. Laboratory tests on biological specimens, including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), serum, and stool, are needed to confirm the virus responsible for illness.

What is the treatment for AFM?

There is no specific treatment available for AFM other than supportive care to relieve symptoms. More information about treatment can be found at: http://www.cdc.gov/acute-flaccid-myelitis/downloads/acute-flaccid-myelitis.pdf.
How can AFM be prevented?
The diseases that might cause AFM can be prevented in different ways. The best way to prevent polio is through vaccination. Practicing good hygiene can reduce the risk of infection, such as by hand washing, covering noses and mouths when sneezing or coughing, and not sharing cigarettes, straws, cups, glasses, or eating utensils. Cleaning surfaces with a disinfectant is also helpful. For diseases that are spread by mosquitoes, wearing insect repellent and long sleeves and long pants help prevent bites.
How can I get more information about AFM?
October 2018

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What is acute flaccid myelitis? Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is a condition that affects the nervous system, specifically the spinal cord. Most patients have sudden onset of limb (arm and leg) weakness. AFM is thought to be caused by infections with different types of viruses.

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There are no specific practices that can be contributed to prevention of AFM. General health guidelines such as covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing, not sharing eating or drinking utensils, and using insect repellant are recommended.

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Research is quite limited at the moment but concerns are growing along with cases. One of the top researchers is a man named David M. Morens

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Cases seem to be increasing with time. This is quite concerning considering the current treatment options are completely alleviation of symptoms.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is an uncommon but serious neurologic condition. It affects the nervous system, specifically the area of the spinal cord called gray matter, which causes the muscles and reflexes in the body to become weak.

We have seen increases in AFM cases in the U.S. every other year starting in 2014.

Most AFM cases (more than 90%) have been in young children.

You may hear AFM referred to as a "polio-like" condition, but all the stool specimens from AFM patients that we received tested negative for poliovirus. The cases of AFM since 2014 are not caused by poliovirus.

Sudden arm or leg weakness, loss of muscle tone, and loss of reflexes are the most common symptoms.

Most children had a respiratory illness or fever before they developed AFM. Learn how to decrease risk of getting viral infections.

Clinicians diagnose AFM by taking a careful medical history, doing a physical exam of the patient, and performing an MRI to review pictures of the spinal cord.

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haemophilus influenzae serotype b (hib) vaccination

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respiratory syncytial virus infection (rsv)

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sars (severe acute respiratory syndrome)

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national respiratory and enteric virus surveillance system

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active bacterial core surveillance (abcs)

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Acute Flaccid Myelitis: What You Need to Know

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Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is an uncommon but serious neurologic condition. It affects the nervous system, specifically the area of the spinal cord called gray matter, which causes the muscles and reflexes in the body to become weak. We have seen increases in AFM cases in the U.S.

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A physician will initially test muscle strength and reflexes. If these are compromised, MRI scans or samples of cerebrospinal fluid would be taken.

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This graph shows a consistent spike in cases every august. The spike is over by November and then the cases are quite low the reminder of the year.