What’s causing a polio-like virus in children? UNE’s Meghan May weighs in
Cases of a virus that resembles polio have been cropping up around the country, and scientists are struggling to understand why. Lifezette consulted University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences Meghan May, Ph.D., to learn more.
The illness, called acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), causes respiratory symptoms along with pain, weakness and stiffness, and in some cases causes paralysis. There have been 50 cases confirmed in 24 states in the U.S.
“The disease is caused by several different viruses. It is important to clarify that while polio is an AFM, the disease outbreak we are currently experiencing is not truly polio,” May said. “There is not yet one single infectious agent that has been found in all 50 of this year’s cases, which indicates we either haven’t found it yet, or more likely perhaps we are looking at very similar clinical presentations that are caused by a few different viruses,”
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