Art and Science of Laboratory Medicine

Art and Science of Laboratory Medicine

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Polio-like paralysis in California

Recently a number of children in California have developed a poliomyelitis-like paralysis. The cause of this paralysis is not yet known, and information about the outbreak is scarce. Here is what we know so far:

  • At least 5, and perhaps as many as 20 children have suffered weakness or paralysis in one or more limbs. The median age of the patients is 12 years and the cases have been reported since 2012.
  • One group of 5 patients recently presented at the American Academy
    of Neurology Annual meeting developed full paralysis within 2 days, and
    have not recovered limb function in 6 months.
  • The cases are all located within a 100-mile radius.
  • A mild respiratory illness preceded paralysis in some of the children.
  • Enterovirus type 68 has been recovered from the stool of some of the patients.
Read more:
Polio-like paralysis in California


Source: Virology Blog

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