New Polio-Like Illness Causing Paralysis Hits California Children

Los Angeles Times: A small number of children in California have come down with polio-like illnesses since 2012 — suffering paralysis in one or more limbs and other symptoms — and physicians and public health officials do not yet know why.A virus may play a role, said Dr. Carol Glaser, leader of a California Department of Public Health team investigating the illnesses, which are occurring sporadically throughout the state.

The afflicted kids suffer severe weakness or paralysis, which strikes rapidly — sometimes after a mild respiratory illness. Scans of the patients’ spinal cords show patterns of damage similar to that found in polio sufferers, Glaser said….