6 Minnesota Children Diagnosed With Rare 'Polio-Like' Illness

Symptoms to watch out for include sudden muscle weakness, drooping facial features, neck stiffness and difficulty swallowing or speaking.
Six children in Minnesota have been diagnosed with a rare "polio-like" disease since September, baffling health officials.
The rare condition, known as acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), normally occurs as a complication following a viral infection, but can also have environmental and genetic causes, according to a statement from the Minnesota Department of Health.
The state typically sees just one or fewer cases of AFM a year, making the six cases extremely concerning. There is no particular treatment for AFM.
Symptoms to watch out for include sudden muscle weakness, drooping facial features, neck stiffness and difficulty swallowing or speaking.
For reasons unknown, the disease typically develops only in children. The Minnesota cases have all involved kids 10 years old or younger, health officials said. An investigation is underway to determine what caused these specific cases of AFM.
To prevent illness, the department of health recommends washing your hands frequently, staying up to date on vaccinations and avoiding mosquito bites.
RELATED STORIES
Trending on Inside Edition

Civil War Veterans in Previously Unmarked Graves Honored Decades Later
News
26-Year-Old Georgia Woman Dies in Skydiving Accident
Human Interest
Texas School Shooter's Behavior in Months Before Massacre Concerned Those He Knew, But Was Left Unreported
News
Father of Sandy Hook Victim Calls for Action in Wake of Texas School Shooting
Politics
Pit Bull Named Chata Is Lone Survivor of Private Plane Crash That Killed 2 Pilots
Inspirational