2 Franklin County Children Among Those Stricken With Mysterious Illness

It's a disease you've probably never heard of, because it's very rare. But several cases that have popped up in our state have pediatric caregivers concerned.

A six-year-old boy in the Seattle area is believed to have died from what is called AFM, or acute flaccid myelitis, an illness that affects the nervous system. It often comes with a sudden weakness in an arm or leg, or both, along with decreased muscle tone and the absence of reflexes.

According to the CDC, this rare illness can possibly result from someone who has viral infections, but so few cases have been reported over the years.

The boy, Daniel Ramierez, passed away over the weekend, after being treated for nearly two weeks.

Medical staff at the Centers for Disease Control say AFM has spiked in the last year, with some 50 people in 24 states becoming stricken. In Washington state, two of the 8 affected children, are from Franklin County. All eight are between 3 and 14 years of age.

Officials say there's no protocol cure for AFM, and cases are considered to be very rare. There were only two reported in WA in 2014, and none last year. The CDC is expected to release more information following medical and other reports.