AFM has infected six Minnesota children since mid-September

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) sent a letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urging them to investigate and respond to recent cases of AFM, a serious nervous system condition that causes patients’ muscles to weaken and other polio-like symptoms. On Friday, October 5th, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced that AFM has infected six Minnesota children since mid-September, and the CDC has acknowledged that 362 cases of AFM have been reported since 2014, indicating an increasing infection rate. In the letter, Klobuchar asked CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield to share the CDC’s plan to address these AFM infections and requested a Member-level briefing for senators by the appropriate agency personnel.

“The CDC has acknowledged that 362 cases of AFM have been reported since 2014, indicating an increasing infection rate. AFM causes patients’ muscles to weaken and symptoms include sudden muscle weakness in the arms or legs, neck weakness or stiffness, drooping eyelids or a facial droop, difficulty swallowing or slurred speech. These symptoms are remarkably similar to polio or the West Nile Virus. As AFM affects mostly children and has no known cure, it is imperative that CDC conduct an expedited investigation and response to AFM infections,” Klobuchar wrote.

The full text of the letter can be found below:

Dear Dr. Redfield,

I am writing to urge the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to expedite its investigation and response to the increased incidence of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) infections.  On Friday, October 5th, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced that AFM has infected six Minnesota children since mid-September. This includes two children who required treatment in the intensive care unit for respiratory support.

The CDC has acknowledged that 362 cases of AFM have been reported since 2014, indicating an increasing infection rate. AFM causes patients’ muscles to weaken and symptoms include sudden muscle weakness in the arms or legs, neck weakness or stiffness, drooping eyelids or a facial droop, difficulty swallowing or slurred speech. These symptoms are remarkably similar to polio or the West Nile Virus. As AFM affects mostly children and has no known cure, it is imperative that CDC conduct an expedited investigation and response to AFM infections.

Since AFM can develop as a result of a viral infection, the Minnesota Department of Health has issued recommendations that parents and children take measures to avoid the spread of germs and contact a healthcare provider at the first sign of illness. But as the causes of AFM are unknown, I urge the CDC to provide more information immediately about preventive measures and treatments.

To better understand the challenges and opportunities regarding the federal government’s efforts toward AFM, I request your response to the following questions:

  1. What initiatives are underway to more accurately track AFM infection patterns?
  2. What initiatives are underway to research the causes of AFM?
  3. Could additional resources be used at CDC to facilitate or improve or accelerate this work? If so, please describe. 
  4. Please describe any research or initiatives underway to update or improve the effectiveness of our current treatments for AFM.
  5. Does CDC have a response plan in place for AFM? If so, when was this response plan last updated?
  6. How is CDC coordinating with the Minnesota Health Department and providing assistance or relief to hospitals who have seen an increase in visits due to AFM?
  7. How quickly can you get this information to us?

I respectfully request that you provide answers to these questions no later than close of business on October 16, 2018. I understand that the Minnesota Department of Health has been in touch with CDC to track the spread of AFM and I encourage you to provide MDH with updated information as swiftly as possible.

In addition to a written response, I request a Member-level briefing for myself and other interested colleagues by the appropriate agency personnel to learn more about your efforts to respond to the recent AFM infections. Thank you for your attention to this important public health issue.  

Sincerely,

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