Public Health England investigating rise in cases of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP)
Public Health England is conducting an investigation into the increase in reported cases of AFP, a total of 40 cases have been reported in the UK across 2018. Many of these were reported months after the initial diagnosis.
Up until August 2018, 6 cases of AFP occurred which was then followed by a rapid rise in the number of people showing symptoms of AFP during September 2018. The number of reported cases peaked in October 2018 and have declined since. The cases were scattered across the United Kingdom.
US increase in Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) in children
In October 2018, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that they were concerned about an increase in acute flaccid myelitis in children. In November 2018, CDC Director Robert R. Redfield, MD, called for the establishment of an Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) Task Force to aid in the ongoing investigation to define the cause of, and improve treatment and outcomes for, patients with AFM.
AFP symptoms
Symptoms of acute flaccid paralysis include:
- weakness and loss of muscle tone and reflexes in the arms or legs
- facial droop or weakness
- difficulty moving the eyes
- drooping eyelids
- difficulty swallowing
- slurred speech
AFP in Ireland
Sporadic cases of AFP occur each year in Ireland. However, to date, there is no evidence of an increase in AFP in Ireland since 2018. However, all hospital clinicians who see such patients with these symptoms (only in those < 15 years of age) are asked to contact the HPSC as part of ongoing surveillance and investigation to determine the cause.
http://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/vaccinepreventable/polio/acuteflaccidparalysisafp/
The best way of preventing this disease is to be up-to-date on vaccines and practice good hygiene (washing your hands).
Further information
PHE - PHE investigating rise in reports of rare illness, Feb 2019 - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/phe-investigating-rise-in-reports-of-rare-illness
CDC, US - Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) investigation, Oct 2018 - https://www.cdc.gov/acute-flaccid-myelitis/afm-surveillance.html
CDC, US – Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) Task Force, November 2018 - https://www.cdc.gov/ddid/bsc/afm-task-force.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Facute-flaccid-myelitis%2Ftask-force.html
HPSC - Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) guidance - http://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/vaccinepreventable/polio/acuteflaccidparalysisafp/guidance/