Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is a very rare condition that affects a person’s spinal cord marked by the sudden onset of weakness in the arms or legs. Less than one in a million people in the United States will get AFM each year.

Texas map Image/Urban
Texas map
Image/Urban

In 2018 to date, Texas health officials have reported 10 AFM cases from eight counties–Collin and Tarrant counties with two each and Dallas, Galveston, Harris, Hill, Parker and Travis counties with one each.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is conducting an investigation to determine what causes the condition. Possible causes include viruses, environmental toxins and genetic disorders.

There is no specific treatment for AFM.

Texas providers have reported 37 cases of AFM since 2014, with the most cases in 2016 (19). Most of the cases occur in children.