Like polio, AFM affects the body's nervous system -- specifically, the spinal cord -- and can cause paralysis. Cases diagnosed in September of this year will be reported at the end of October. "What we saw ... is that the majority of children had a fever and a respiratory illness," said Messacar. "CDC is always concerned when there is a serious illness that is affecting the public, especially when it's affecting children," said Patel. "So we expect to see [AFM cases] decrease based on the epidemiology of enteroviruses."

Source: CNN October 05, 2016 15:59 UTC