Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) | VitalSigns | CDC

Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) | VitalSigns | CDC

• In 2018, there were 233 cases of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) across 41 states; AFM is a rare but serious condition that causes limb weakness and can progress rapidly, sometimes requiring urgent ventilator support.
• The average age of patients with AFM was 5 years, and most were otherwise healthy children—according to the latest Vital Signs report.
• Clinicians can help improve our understanding of AFM by recognizing the symptoms early, running appropriate tests, and rapidly reporting suspected cases to the local health department.