A serious illness known as Acute Flaccid Myelitis, or AFM, is a rare condition that the Center for Disease Control has been tracking in the U.S. since 2014.  AFM is a polio-like condition that affects the nervous system, especially the spinal cord. Common symptoms include sudden weakness and loss of muscle tone in the arms or legs, as well as difficulty swallowing, facial or eyelid drooping, and slurred speech.  The number of cases of AFM have been increasing each year.  Already this year, more cases have been reported than the 33 cases confirmed last year. Children are among the highest at risk, but the CDC estimates that less than 1 in a million children in the U.S. will get

AFM each year.  Although it is not fully known what causes AFM, it is believed that several viruses are linked to the the illness.  Also, most patients had a respiratory illness before developing AFM. The CDC is working closely with national experts to better understand the possible causes of the illness and update their information on treatment.