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A polio-like syndrome was initially identified in five children in California between August 2012 and July 2013, according to findings released in advance of the American Academy of Neurology's annual meeting.
The children had acute flaccid paralysis in at least one limb and related spinal cord abnormalities on MRI. (Children who met criteria for Guillain-Barré syndrome or botulism were excluded.) Paralysis had a sudden onset, peaking in severity within 2 days. Three of the children had respiratory symptoms before paralysis onset.
All had been vaccinated against polio. Two children tested positive for enterovirus 68 (a rare virus associated with polio-like symptoms); the remaining three cases had no identifiable cause.
Despite treatment, all h…