Guidance

Acute flaccid paralysis: investigating and reporting a case

Information on the steps required to report and investigate a case of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) and acute flaccid myelitis (AFM).

From:
UK Health Security Agency
Published
19 December 2018
Last updated
21 August 2025 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

How to report a case of acute flaccid paralysis or acute flaccid myelitis

HTML

Details

This document is intended for healthcare professionals who are investigating a case of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) or acute flaccid myelitis (AFM).

The document covers:

  • AFP/AFP case definition
  • aims of surveillance
  • steps required to report and investigate a case
  • laboratorycase, testing

Onceincluding a case has been reported to the UKenhanced Healthsurveillance Securitysurvey

  • specimen Agencycollection (UKHSA),and the UKHSA teamlaboratory willtesting
  • relevant requestcontact completion of an online enhanced surveillance survey.

    details

    • Updates to this page

    Published 19 December 2018
    Last updated 21 August 2025 + show all updates

    1. Updated landing page to reflect updated reporting.

    2. Updated introduction, information about how to report and contact details.

    3. Updated information on notification regulations.

    4. Updated 'How to report a case of acute flaccid paralysis or acute flaccid myelitis'.

    5. Updated 'How to report and investigate a case of AFP or AFM'.

    6. First published.

    Sign up for emails or print this page