CDC Investigating Rise of Paralysis-Causing Syndrome

The syndrome can cause temporary paralysis.

The CDC reported Monday that there have been 50 cases of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) since the start of this year, compared with just 21 cases in all of 2015.

The enterovirus D68 spread rapidly in 2014 and infected many children. Some of the children developed AFM, but the CDC has not "consistently detected a pathogen" in the spinal fluid of infected patients, making the cause difficult to pinpoint.

Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious-disease expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said parents should be aware of symptoms of enterovirus D68 infection in case the virus ends up being definitively linked to the mysterious syndrome.

"We're tracking disease and urging everyone to wash their hands and if there is any early illness to get in touch with a health care provider," said Schaffner. He said early symptoms are fever, rash and sometimes severe respiratory distress.