Acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM, appears to be on the rise in the United States and is gaining a lot of attention due to its similarities to polio.

Adding to the fear surrounding this mysterious illness is that about 90% of the cases of AFM are happening in children.

AFM affects the spinal cord, causing paralysis that can become permanent.

This may be the first that the mainstream is hearing of this illness, but this is actually the third ‘burst’ of the illness that doctors have seen in the United States.

We can only hope that doctors working toward answers find them soon.