Three Cases of Polio-like Virus Confirmed in Arkansas

Three Cases of Polio-like Virus Confirmed in Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK – A Polio- like virus has been reported in Arkansas. The Department of Health confirms three cases– all children– with Acute Flaccid Myelitis.

AFM was first discovered in 2014, and is still so new that health professionals still don’t know what causes it, how it’s spread, or how to prevent it.

“Because it’s so dramatic, and because it affects young children, the CDC and health authorities across the nation are dedicating a lot of resources to it right now, to try to figure out what’s going on,” State Epidemiologist Dr. Dirk Haselow said.

A vast majority of AFM cases are those under the age of 18, he says, but the illness mostly targets young children between ages four and five.

Doctors describe AFM as a virus or infection. Someone coming down with it would experience weakness and paralysis in their arms and legs. Unfortunately, Dr. Haselow says, even after treatment, a person will never have the same strength they had before they caught the illness.

While AFM is rare, it’s what unknown about the illness that makes it so concerning — and because doctors don’t know what causes it, they don’t know how to prevent it.

There are currently 80 cases of AFM in the United States right now. Dr. Haselow says the three cases in Arkansas puts the state slightly above average.

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Early Voting Numbers Higher than 2014 Mid-terms

SALINE COUNTY – Early voting is officially over, but polls re-opened at 7:30 a.m. for Election Day today.

Polling places this year saw more early voters than they did in 2014 according to the Arkansas Secretary of State’s Office.

As of Monday morning 398,460 cast their ballots early, along with 20,515 who sent in their absentee ballot.

Despite Monday’s wet weather conditions, rain didn’t stop voters from casting their vote early. A poll worker said the location on Main Street in Benton saw more than 10,000 voters come through the doors since early voting started.

“All of these issues that were voting for affect us… if you have an opinion about anything to do with politics then you need to vote or you shouldn’t have an opinion,” said Hayley Helsham.

“There are lots of very important things that we have to decide as a country and I feel like we really need to be more united than we are, but that means we just have to be heard individually,” said Sheila Woodall.

Four years ago, 357,086 Arkansans cast their ballot early.