, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Through Nov. 30, 134 cases of AFM in 33 states have been confirmed out of the 299 reported to the CDC. That represents “an increase of 18 confirmed cases from the previous week, but most of the latest confirmed AFM cases occurred in September and October,” the CDC reported Dec. 3.
There has been a pattern of increased AFM cases every other year for the previous 4 years: 120 cases in 2014, 22 cases in 2015, 149 cases in 2016, and 33 cases in 2017. “Most cases are reported between August and October, and a marked reduction in cases is seen in November. That pattern appears to be repeating in 2018 because states have reported fewer [persons under investigation] over the past couple of weeks. CDC expects this decline to continue,” the statement said.
The 16 confirmed cases in Texas are the most for any state this year, followed by Colorado with 15; Ohio with 10; and Illinois, New Jersey, and Washington with 9 each. California and Florida have not had any confirmed cases as of Nov. 30. Since 2014, over 90% of all confirmed AFM cases have occurred in children, the CDC noted.
More information on AFM is available at a CDC website for health care professionals.