The Center for Disease Control and Prevention said the rare polio-like illness, acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM, could be associated with a virus. Most of the patients with AFM (more than 90%) had a mild respiratory illness or fever consistent with a viral infection before they developed AFM.
AFM weakens the muscles, causing paralysis, and affects mostly children. The CDC is searching for a cause.
Reba Faircloth, a mother whose daughter was diagnosed with AFM in October, said, "I figured it was just an ear infection and a little bit of a cold cause she did have a runny nose. It started with a fever, vomiting, then went the use of legs and arms."
Her doctors at Wolfson Children's Hospital found that she had AFM.
The CDC has confirmed 90 cases this year, with more than 250 suspected cases nationwide. Since 2014 the number of cases has been on the rise.
A new report from the CDC says the initial symptoms of AFM are similar to at least two viruses.
"It's behaving like it is a reaction to some sort of an infection," said Dr. Mobeen Rathore, Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Wolfson Children's Hospital.
They're not certain these viruses are the cause, but it begs the question: is AFM contagious? Dr. Rathore says no. "It's probably not an actual viral infection that's causing AFM, but maybe a reaction to an infection," he said.
Without a direct cause, there's no direct treatment. As for Faircloth, she's taking her daughter to physical therapy, which is helping little Aamira walk again.
"They're working with her, with the transitioning, so sitting down and getting up and rolling over and getting on all fours to get up," said Faircloth.
"Once we know what causes this and if that truly is a virus, then there is a possibility of developing a vaccine to prevent the viral infection," said Dr. Rathore.
Faircloth is hoping for a cure, while the CDC is continuing it's research.