Department of Health now investigating six cases of child paralysis; believed to be AFM

2-8-2000, GREENWICH HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM ENTRANCE, A GEMS ambulance parked outside of the Greenwich Hospital Emergency Room Tuesday afternoon...............PHOTO/LUCKEY JR.....COLOR 2-8-2000, GREENWICH HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM ENTRANCE, A GEMS ambulance parked outside of the Greenwich Hospital Emergency Room Tuesday afternoon...............PHOTO/LUCKEY JR.....COLOR Photo: Bob Luckey, GT Photo: Bob Luckey, GT Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Department of Health now investigating six cases of child paralysis; believed to be AFM 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

The Washington State Department of Health and local public health agencies are investigating the cause behind six cases of children paralysis.

All the children were under the age of six and were hospitalized due to the sudden paralysis of at least one of each of their limbs. The Department of Health said in a press release that it also working with experts in neurology from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation of suspected cases of acute flaccid myelitis.

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The children, residents of King, Pierce, Lewis, Skagit and Snohomish counties, all experienced symptoms of respiratory illnesses and high fevers the week before becoming paralyzed. However, the Department of Health said causes for AFM are hard to determine and are not always the same. What is common among cases is a weakening of strength in individual limbs.

"At this point there isn't evidence that would point to a single source of illness among these cases," said Dr. Scott Lindquist, state infectious disease epidemiologist at the Department of Health.

The Department of Health said there is no specific way to avoid AFM, but washing hands, avoiding illnesses and staying up to date on immunizations can protect from known causes.

AFM is rare, but has happened in clusters before. In 2016, nine cases of AFM were found in Washington state. Since the beginning of 2018, there was one other case. Across the country there have been 39 cases in 2018. Most have affected children.