The Return Of A Monster
Kennedy Dunning
Kennedy Dunning
A polio-like disease that only affects young children is growing rapidly in the United States.
Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM), a rare disease being compared to polio, causes a strong paralysis at the spinal cord. This starts at the nervous system where signals are carried to and from the brain. The symptoms are extensive. The most apparent is weakness in the arms and legs as well as extreme delay in reflexes such as drooping eyelids and slurred speech. The disease spreads rapidly, as quick as 24 hours in some instances.
As of September 30th, 2017, there have been 38 confirmed cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control Prevention. These have been reported from 16 states in the United States, typically northern, such as Minnesota, Washington, Illinois, Colorado, and Pennsylvania. Since 2014, there have been 382 cases reported in total.
Scientist have yet to figure out what causes AFM exactly. However, it has been established that the disease only affects young children. The average age ranges from seven to sixteen. In some cases, tragically, the age was at a striking six months. This could be due to young children’s fragile immune system since they are not fully grown and have not been exposed to many contaminants. The main theory being proposed recently is the decreasing number of vaccinations in the U.S. Sofia Stewart, like most teens, has not gone to the doctors since she was much younger. With few people being vaccinated, the spread of disease can become even more contagious.
This epidemic could be compared to the flu influenza last year. It started off small but had the possibility to grow without a proper diagnosis. Every year, 20% of the population is affected by the flu. Audrey Boyd, was one of the unlucky souls. She “was out of school for a whole week” and thought she was going to die. Sadly, that reality is true for some. The flu season in February of last year broke records with 49,000 deaths.
The flu is also a respiratory disease, like AFM, with life altering symptoms. The difference is that the flu has a cure: the flu shot. AFM only has small treatments, which could be physical therapy with a neurologist. The flu in comparison has options to stop the symptoms and it is available in many health care services. The body’s immune system changes and declines over time. That is why it is recommended that everyone get a shot every year before flu season starts. When children begin to build up an immunity to fundamental vaccines, they can lower their chances of acquiring respiratory diseases, like AFM, in the future.
Do not let the fear of needles keep you from protecting the well- being of your friends and family.
Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM), a rare disease being compared to polio, causes a strong paralysis at the spinal cord. This starts at the nervous system where signals are carried to and from the brain. The symptoms are extensive. The most apparent is weakness in the arms and legs as well as extreme delay in reflexes such as drooping eyelids and slurred speech. The disease spreads rapidly, as quick as 24 hours in some instances.
As of September 30th, 2017, there have been 38 confirmed cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control Prevention. These have been reported from 16 states in the United States, typically northern, such as Minnesota, Washington, Illinois, Colorado, and Pennsylvania. Since 2014, there have been 382 cases reported in total.
Scientist have yet to figure out what causes AFM exactly. However, it has been established that the disease only affects young children. The average age ranges from seven to sixteen. In some cases, tragically, the age was at a striking six months. This could be due to young children’s fragile immune system since they are not fully grown and have not been exposed to many contaminants. The main theory being proposed recently is the decreasing number of vaccinations in the U.S. Sofia Stewart, like most teens, has not gone to the doctors since she was much younger. With few people being vaccinated, the spread of disease can become even more contagious.
This epidemic could be compared to the flu influenza last year. It started off small but had the possibility to grow without a proper diagnosis. Every year, 20% of the population is affected by the flu. Audrey Boyd, was one of the unlucky souls. She “was out of school for a whole week” and thought she was going to die. Sadly, that reality is true for some. The flu season in February of last year broke records with 49,000 deaths.
The flu is also a respiratory disease, like AFM, with life altering symptoms. The difference is that the flu has a cure: the flu shot. AFM only has small treatments, which could be physical therapy with a neurologist. The flu in comparison has options to stop the symptoms and it is available in many health care services. The body’s immune system changes and declines over time. That is why it is recommended that everyone get a shot every year before flu season starts. When children begin to build up an immunity to fundamental vaccines, they can lower their chances of acquiring respiratory diseases, like AFM, in the future.
Do not let the fear of needles keep you from protecting the well- being of your friends and family.