Mystery Outbreak: At Least 3 Cases Of Polio-Type Disease Confirmed In New Jersey

New Jersey accounts for three confirmed and three suspected cases of a rare polio-like illness that has been affecting children across the U.S. this week, state and federal officials said.

Cecilia Levine

10/18/2018 4:39 p.m.

Of the 127 acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) cases reported to the CDC, 62 are confirmed and the rest are under investigation, reports say.

AFM starts out with symptoms similar to a common cold, but it could cause paralysis. The average age of those diagnosed is 4 years old.

It's unclear what's causing the outbreak, which can develop after a viral infection, environmental toxins, and genetic disorders.

AFM affects a person’s nervous system, specifically the spinal cord, causing weakness in one or more limbs.

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