Transcript for 6 children in Minnesota diagnosed with rare, polio-like disease
Next this Monday night, the mysterious outbreak striking children in one part of the country. Authorities reporting a troubling rise in a rare polio-like disorder that could seem at first to be just a common cold. ABC’s Alex Perez is in Minnesota tonight. Reporter: Tonight, doctors in Minnesota scrambling to figure out what’s behind an outbreak of a mysterious polio-like illness. Mom’s like Elaine young, desperate for answers. He tried to lift his arm up and it just didn’t work anymore, so, we rushed to the E.R. Reporter: Her son, 4-year-old Orville, is one of six children recently diagnosed with acute flaccid myelitis, or afm. A rare disease that attacks the nervous system and can lead to muscle weakness, slurred speech and paralysis. It often strikes children and can start off like the common cold. He could barely walk. They were really worried about his breathing. Reporter: 1 in a million people in the U.S. Will get afm each year, but there’s been anup tick since 2014. Two years ago, a similar outbreak sickened eight children in Seattle. The cause of afm is unknown but doctors suspect it’s a virus. I think parents should be advised to monitor their children closely, try to encourage good hand washing. Reporter: Doctors here in Minnesota say they’re not aware of any connection among the patients, but they’re investigating. Orville’s mom says he’s getting stronger every day. And David, doctors say physical therapy can help those with afm, but regaining full control of the effected areas is difficult. David? Alex Perez, thank you. When we come back, word
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
