TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The Florida Department of Health is reporting the state's first confirmed case of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) in 2018.
FDOH says the disease was determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
AFM is a rare but serious condition that has been reported yearly in the United States since 2014 and in Florida in 2014 and 2016.
Although rare, a large number of AFM cases reported nationally are without a known cause. There is no single identified cause for this condition.
The department is working with the CDC to investigate and classify patients suspected of having AFM.
- AFM is a rare condition with symptoms that can include sudden onset of arm or leg weakness and loss of muscle tone and reflexes. Some people, in addition to arm or leg weakness, will have:
- facial droop/weakness
- difficulty moving the eyes
- drooping eyelids
- difficulty with swallowing or slurred speech
If someone has concerns for potential symptoms of AFM, they should contact their healthcare provider as soon as possible.
