Ongoing Surveillance for Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM):
Information for Health Professionals
Clinical guidance
Acute flaccid paralysis surveillance
The Minnesota Department of Health is conducting surveillance for acute flaccid myelitis/paralysis.
- Criteria:
- Acute onset of focal limb weakness; AND
- MRI showing a spinal cord lesion largely restricted to gray matter OR
- CSF with pleocytosis
- Please contact MDH at 651-201-5414 or 1-877-676-5414 to report patients that meet this criteria.
- Reporting of patients meeting the criteria is consistent with a case of “Unexplained Critical Illness” as per the Communicable Disease Reporting Rule, Chapter 4605.
- Reporting of patients meeting the criteria is consistent with a case of “Unexplained Critical Illness” as per the Communicable Disease Reporting Rule, Chapter 4605.
Specimen collection and testing
Collect stool, respiratory, cerebral spinal fluid, and serum specimens from these patients and submit to MDH Public Health Laboratory (PHL) for testing.
Collect (all if possible):
- Nasal Swab/Wash:
VTM
Transport at refrigerator temperature - Serum:
1 ml, in a clot tube
Transport at refrigerator temperature - Stool Sample:
ParaPak C&S, Modified Carey-Blair, or equivalent
Transport at refrigerator temperature - Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF):
No special transport
Transport at refrigerator temperature
- MDH will test the specimens for enterovirus and other possible causes.
Fill out a submission form for EACH specimen:
Use Project #1880 in the upper right hand corner of the form.
- Clinical Testing and Submission Form (PDF)
Printable and/or fillable. Optimized for Adobe or Internet Explorer.
Label all tubes/containers with the following information:
- Patient name
- Patient date of birth
- Date specimen collected
- Specimen type
Send specimens to the MDH PHL:
Send specimens to arrive Monday-Friday before 4:30 p.m. to:
MDH Public Health Laboratory
Attn: Biological Accessioning
601 Robert St. N.
St. Paul, MN 55155-2531
Background and more information
- Health Advisory: Increase in Pediatric Acute Flaccid Myelitis Cases (PDF)
MDH Health Advisory: October 4, 2018
- Health Advisory: Acute Neurological Illness - Minnesota Surveillance (PDF)
MDH Health Advisory: September 29, 2014
