This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/feb/24/polio-like-diseases-seen-california-children

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Polio-like disease seen in California children Polio-like disease seen in California children
(35 minutes later)
A polio-like illness has afflicted a small number of children in California since 2012, causing severe weakness or rapid paralysis in one or more limbs.A polio-like illness has afflicted a small number of children in California since 2012, causing severe weakness or rapid paralysis in one or more limbs.
The Los Angeles Times reported that state public health officials have been investigating the illness since a doctor requested polio testing for a child with severe paralysis in 2012. Since then, similar cases have sporadically been reported throughout the state. The Los Angeles Times reported that state public health officials had been investigating the illness since a doctor requested polio testing for a child with severe paralysis in 2012. Since then, similar cases have sporadically been reported throughout the state.
Dr Carol Glaser, leader of a California department of public health team investigating the illnesses, said she was concerned about the request because polio has been eradicated in the US and the child had not travelled overseas. Dr Carol Glaser, leader of a California department of public health team investigating the illnesses, said she was concerned about the request because polio had been eradicated in the US and the child had not travelled overseas.
The symptoms sometimes occur after a mild respiratory illness. Glaser said a virus that is usually associated with respiratory illness but which has also been linked to polio-like illnesses was detected in two of the patients. The symptoms sometimes occur after a mild respiratory illness. Glaser said a virus that is usually associated with respiratory illness but which has also been linked to polio-like illnesses had been detected in two of the patients.
Dr Keith Van Haren, a paediatric neurologist at Stanford University's Lucile Packard Children's Hospital who has worked with Glaser's team, will present the cases of five of the children at the American Academy of Neurology's upcoming annual meeting. Dr Keith Van Haren, a paediatric neurologist at Stanford University's Lucile Packard children's hospital who has worked with Glaser's team, will present the cases of five of the children at the American Academy of Neurology's upcoming annual meeting.
He said all five had paralysis in one or more arms or legs that reached its full severity within two days. None had recovered limb function after six months. He said all five had paralysis in one or more arms or legs that had reached its full severity within two days. None had recovered limb function after six months.
"We know definitively that it isn't polio," Van Haren added, noting that all had been vaccinated against that disease. "We know definitively that it isn't polio," Van Haren added, noting that all the children had been vaccinated against that disease.
Glaser would not say how many cases were being investigated. Van Haren said he was aware of around 20. Glaser would not say how many cases were being investigated. Van Haren said he was aware of about 20.
She urged doctors to report new cases of acute paralysis so investigators could try to determine the cause.She urged doctors to report new cases of acute paralysis so investigators could try to determine the cause.