Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued March 22 at 5:43PM EDT until March 23 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 73 IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS
IN INDIANA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 8 COUNTIES
IN EAST CENTRAL INDIANA
FAYETTE UNION WAYNE
IN SOUTHEAST INDIANA
DEARBORN FRANKLIN OHIO RIPLEY SWITZERLAND
IN KENTUCKY THIS WATCH INCLUDES 3 COUNTIES
IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY
BOONE CAMPBELL KENTON
IN OHIO THIS WATCH INCLUDES 32 COUNTIES
IN CENTRAL OHIO
DELAWARE FAIRFIELD FAYETTE FRANKLIN HOCKING LICKING MADISON PICKAWAY UNION
IN SOUTH CENTRAL OHIO
ADAMS HIGHLAND PIKE ROSS SCIOTO
IN SOUTHWEST OHIO
BROWN BUTLER CLERMONT CLINTON HAMILTON WARREN
IN WEST CENTRAL OHIO
AUGLAIZE CHAMPAIGN CLARK DARKE GREENE HARDIN LOGAN MERCER MIAMI MONTGOMERY PREBLE SHELBY
THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ABERDEEN, ADA, ALEXANDRIA, AURORA, BATESVILLE, BEAVERCREEK, BELLEFONTAINE, BELLEVUE, BLANCHESTER, BRIGHT, BROOKVILLE, BURLINGTON, CAMDEN, CELINA, CHILLICOTHE, CIRCLEVILLE, COLDWATER, CONNERSVILLE, COVINGTON, DAY HEIGHTS, DAYTON, DELAWARE, DILLSBORO, DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI, DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS, DOWNTOWN DAYTON, EATON, ERLANGER, FAIRBORN, FAIRFIELD, FLORENCE, FORT THOMAS, FRANKLIN, GEORGETOWN, GREENDALE, GREENFIELD, GREENVILLE, HAMILTON, HIDDEN VALLEY, HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, HILLSBORO, INDEPENDENCE, KENTON, KETTERING, LANCASTER, LANDEN, LAWRENCEBURG, LEBANON, LIBERTY, LOGAN, LONDON, MANCHESTER, MARYSVILLE, MASON, MIDDLETOWN, MILAN, MILFORD, MINSTER, MOUNT CARMEL, MOUNT ORAB, MOUNT REPOSE, MULBERRY, NEW BREMEN, NEWARK, NEWPORT, OAKBROOK, OSGOOD, OXFORD, PEEBLES, PICKERINGTON, PIKE LAKE, PIKETON, PIQUA, PLAIN CITY, PORTSMOUTH, RICHMOND, RIPLEY, RISING SUN, SEAMAN, SIDNEY, SPRINGBORO, SPRINGFIELD, ST. MARYS, SUMMERSIDE, TIPP CITY, TROY, URBANA, VERSAILLES, VEVAY, WAPAKONETA, WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, WAVERLY, WEST COLLEGE CORNER, WEST JEFFERSON, WEST UNION, WHEELERSBURG, WILMINGTON, WINCHESTER, WITHAMSVILLE, AND XENIA.

Tuesday, October 23rd, 2018

Rare condition strikes local child

Four cases confirmed in Ohio

By Ed Gebert

CELINA - A rare neurological condition affecting a small percentage of children in the U.S. has been confirmed in one Mercer County boy.

The Ohio Department of Health has confirmed four cases of acute flaccid myelitis in Ohio, one each in Columbiana, Cuyahoga, Pickaway and Mercer counties. Mercer County epidemiologist Deb Scheer said the local case was recognized in a hospitalized boy between the ages of 1 and 13.
AFM is a neurological condition that affects fewer than one in a million people in the U.S. each year. It affects the spinal cord and is characterized clinically by a sudden onset of asymmetric limb weakness. A majority of cases were preceded by fever and/or upper respiratory symptoms. Other cases have involved vomiting and diarrhea. These symptoms tended to precede weakness by five days.

AFM has no known cause, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Officials are also unsure whether the condition is contagious. No deaths have been associated with AFM. Diagnostic evaluation for suspected cases includes an MRI of the spinal cord, lumbar puncture and specimen collection (i.e. CSF, serum, stool and respiratory samples). Testing should be done as soon as possible in suspected cases. Consultation with an infectious disease provider and neurologist also is strongly recommended by the CDC.

Parents and caregivers should seek medical care right away if their child develops sudden weakness of the arms or legs. Parents can help protect their children from serious diseases by taking preventive measures such as washing their hands, staying up to date on recommended immunizations and using insect repellent to prevent diseases transmitted through the bite of infected insects.

According to Ohio Department of Health information, all four of Ohio's cases were boys between the ages of 1 and 13. The onset of these cases was between Aug. 5 and Sept. 16, and all four patients were hospitalized.

AFM is not a new condition but is very rare. The number of cases confirmed nationally has increased from 33 in 2017 to 62 cases so far in 2018. However these are well below the 149 cases reported nationally in 2016. More than 90 percent of the confirmed cases across the U.S. have occurred in children age 18 years and younger. According to the CDC, cases of AFM have been found in 22 states including Ohio with onset of the condition between January and September of this year.

Archive of October 23rd, 2018

Buy this E-Edition

Additional online story on this date

Redskins, Cards advance at district

High-level volleyball

VAN WERT - St. Henry coach Tricia Rosenbeck was still catching her breath after a thrilling, five-set victory over Marion Local in the Division IV district semifinal when asked if she expected more of the same on Thursday. [More]

Subscriber and paid stories on this date

Car chase suspect appears on felonies

CELINA - A Toledo man charged with stealing a car at the scene of an accident in which he was reportedly involved and then leading police on a high-speed chase made his initial appearance in Mercer County Common Pleas Court on Monday afternoon.

Celina

City OKs deal for state to help collect taxes

CELINA - City officials aim to enter into a delinquent debt collection agreement with the Ohio Attorney General's office to attempt to reclaim unpaid income taxes of more than $30,000.

New Bremen council approves abatement for Crown expansion

NEW BREMEN - Council members approved a Community Reinvestment Act agreement last night which paves the way for an expansion at Crown Equipment Corp.

Coldwater to apply for state grant

Funds would help pay for all-inclusive playground at park

COLDWATER - Village officials will apply for a $250,000 Ohio Department of Natural Resources grant that would help fund A Park 4 All Abilities' all-inclusive playground at Coldwater Memorial Park.

St. Marys

Council OKs $4.9M in appropriations

ST. MARYS - Council members on Monday approved seven supplemental appropriations totaling more than $4.9 million.

The supplemental appropriation re

Six indicted by grand jury appear in court

CELINA - Six people made initial appearances in Mercer County Common Pleas Court on Monday after they had been indicted by a Mercer County grand jury on Thursday.

St. Henry council opposes Issue 1

ST. HENRY - Village council members during Monday's meeting declared their opposition to State Issue 1.
Village solicitor Richard Delzeith said, i

Forum on Issue 1 planned in Celina

CELINA - Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey and Mercer County Prosecutor Matt Fox will host a community discussion on Issue 1 at 7 p.m. on Monday.

Gre

Riders, Bulldogs bow out of district

ELIDA - The Division II boys district soccer final at Elida on Thursday will be an All-Western Buckeye League matchup.

Unfortunately, it will not be a rematch of the Grand Lake Rivalry.

Area players earn All-District

Area volleyball players received honors as the District 8 Volleyball Coaches Association selected its All-District teams and rosters for the annual All-Star Matches.