Rare Polio-Like Illness Affecting Children Nationwide Turns Up in North Texas

FORT WORTH (WBAP/KLIF News) – A rare Polio-like illness that’s affecting children across the country has turned up in North Texas.

It’s called Acute Flaccid Myelitis, a serious neurological illness that comes on suddenly.

Dr. Fernando Acosta Jr., a neurologist at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, told WFAA TV three such cases have been identified there this year and there could be a fourth.

There is no treatment or cure for the illness which presents a sometimes debilitating effect on the body.

“It’s like polio. There is patchy focal weakness and it can occur anywhere in the body,” he said.

Dr. Acosta Jr. said one patient has been improving with rehab but the other two will not get better.

He urges parents who notice any focal weakness symptoms in their kids to immediately go to the emergency room.