Story highlights Illinois health officials are investigating nine recent cases of AFM

Colorado health officials have confirmed 14 cases this year

There have been 38 cases confirmed nationwide this year, CDC says

Washington health officials are investigating five possible cases

(CNN) The Illinois Department of Public Health is investigating nine recent cases of acute flaccid myelitis, also called AFM, according to a statement Wednesday.

All of the cases are in patients younger than 18 and have been clinically diagnosed by health care providers, the statement said. State health officials are working with the care providers to obtain the samples and information to send to the US Centers for Disease and Prevention for testing and confirmation of the diagnoses.

"The CDC will make the final determination on diagnoses and numbers are subject to change," the statement said.

All of the patients are "from northern Illinois," according to the health department, but no other location information was provided.

Since 2015, when Illinois began monitoring reports of AFM in the state, four confirmed cases have been identified.

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