Rise in mystery paralysis

A number of children have been diagnosed in recent weeks with a mysterious paralyzing illness that causes them to lose the ability to move their face, neck, back, arms or legs — and US health officials said Tuesday they still aren’t sure what’s causing it.

This year’s count of 90 cases could soon surpass the numbers seen in similar out- breaks in 2014 and 2016, officials said, which had 120 and 149 cases, respectively. In 2015 and 2017 the counts were far lower and it’s not clear why.

The symptoms tend to occur about a week after the kids had a fever and respiratory illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

The condition is called acute flaccid myelitis. No one has died from it this year, but CDC officials say at least half the patients do not recover from the paralysis and some cases carry serious complications.

The illnesses have spiked in September each year there’s been a wave and then tailed off significantly by November. More than 160 cases are being investigated by the CDC and some of those may join the count.