News Updates

Current news topics:

• Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM)
• West Nile
• Cyclospora
• Zika Virus

Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is a very rare condition that affects a person’s spinal cord marked by the sudden onset of weakness in the arms or legs. Less than one in a million people in the United States will get AFM each year. There is no specific treatment for AFM, and the cause is unknown. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is conducting an investigation to determine what causes the condition. Possible causes include viruses, environmental toxins and genetic disorders. AFM is not required to be reported, but DSHS is asking all healthcare providers to report suspected cases of AFM to their local health departments.

AFM can be difficult to diagnose because it shares symptoms with several other neurologic conditions. All suspected cases of AFM are reviewed by the CDC to determine if they meet the case definition. It can take about a month for the status of a case to be determined.

CDC data shows a pattern of increased AFM cases in late summer to early fall of every other year beginning in August 2014. Texas providers have reported 37 cases of AFM since 2014. Most of the cases occur in children.

AFM Case Counts by County, Texas 2018

AFM Case Counts by Year, Texas 2014 - 2018

It may be fall, but mosquitoes are still biting and West Nile illness remains a concern in Texas with new cases reported every week. The state has confirmed 89 human cases of West Nile in 2018, including one death. Texas typically sees cases into November and December. We’ll update case counts weekly here each Tuesday.

In 2017, Texas reported 135 cases of West Nile illness that resulted in six deaths.

People can be infected by West Nile virus through the bite of an infected mosquito. People should prevent bites by applying insect repellent while outdoors, using air conditioning or making sure screens are in good repair, and covering up with long sleeves and long pants to prevent bites. It’s also important to dump out standing water to keep mosquitoes from laying eggs.

DSHS News Release

Additional surveillance information

Reported 2018 West Nile Cases by County

This is the final update on the May-August 2018 cluster of illnesses caused by the Cyclospora parasite. There were 339 cases reported among Texas residents, and DSHS and local public health departments investigated three sub-clusters in the state, but no specific source of illness was identified. CDC has information on multiple outbreaks in the United States at https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/cyclosporiasis/outbreaks/2018/c-082318/index.html. No reported Texas cases were linked to outbreaks in other states.

Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by consuming food or water contaminated with the microscopic Cyclospora parasite. The main symptom is watery diarrhea lasting a few days to a few months. Additional symptoms may include loss of appetite, fatigue, weight loss, abdominal cramps, bloating, increased gas, nausea, vomiting and a low fever. Symptoms may come and go multiple times over a period of weeks or months. People with symptoms that could be related to Cyclospora should contact their health care provider for treatment.

Reported 2018 Cases by County