Published Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018 | 12:39 p.m.
Updated Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018 | 3:41 p.m.
A child in Clark County has been diagnosed with a rare paralyzing illness that has afflicted more than 60 children nationwide this year.
It is the first case of acute flaccid myelitis that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed in the county, according to the Southern Nevada Health District. Officials said they would not be releasing any additional information about the child.
At least 62 cases have been confirmed in 22 states this year, and at least 65 additional illnesses in those states are being investigated, according to the CDC. Similar waves of the same illness occurred in 2014 and 2016.
The average age of patients in confirmed cases is 4, while 90 percent of those affected are under 18, the CDC said. In previous years, most cases were discovered in late summer and fall. This year, most were in August and September.
The disease, which affects the nervous system, was blamed for one U.S. death last year, according to the CDC.
CDC officials say they haven’t found the cause. Some possible suspects, such as polio and West Nile virus, have been ruled out. Another kind of virus is suspected, but it’s been found in only some of the cases.
“This is a mystery so far,” the CDC’s Dr. Nancy Messonnier said. Since officials detected an increase in cases beginning in 2014, 386 cases have been confirmed, she said.
About 90 percent of the cases are children who have suffered muscle weakness or paralysis, including in the face, neck, back or limbs. The symptoms tend to occur about a week after they had a fever and respiratory illness.
It is “a pretty dramatic disease,” but fortunately most kids recover, Messonnier said, noting that parents should seek immediate medical care for a child who experiences sudden weakness or loss of muscle tone in the arms or legs.
Though a cause for the disease hasn’t been determined, Messonnier said, washing hands, using insect repellent and staying up to date with vaccines are recommended.
“We don’t know who may be at higher risk for developing AFM or the reasons why they may be at (a) higher risk,” Messonnier said. “We don’t know fully understand the long-term consequences of AFM.”
The Southern Nevada Health District said it would continue to work with the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health and the CDC to investigate any additional suspect cases.
Officials said cases would be reported once confirmation is received through the CDC but did not indicate if any other cases were under review.
The CDC would not release a list of the states reporting probable or confirmed cases. But some states have previously announced clusters, including Minnesota, Illinois, Colorado, New York and Washington.
The Associated Press and Las Vegas Sun contributed to this report.
