It’s being called a mystery illness and being compared to polio.

Over the past four years, the Centers for Disease Control have seen a rise in Acute Flaccid Myelitis, also known as AFM. The neurological condition causes paralysis and weakness in limbs and is mostly diagnosed in children.

The CDC released a report earlier this week saying 62 cases have been confirmed so far this year. 127 cases have been investigated overall across the country, and 3 of those cases are in Alabama.

The numbers of reported and confirmed cases began to rise in 2014. It has earned the title of ‘mysterious’ because CDC officials don’t know what causes the condition or why they began seeing more cases four years ago. Since August 2014, the CDC has confirmed 386 cases, mostly in children.

Symptoms have been most similar to complications associated with viruses like polio and West Nile.

“There are currently 3 cases under investigation and we don’t have any conclusive information at this time,” Dr. Burnestine Taylor with the Alabama Department of Public Health said.

An official, differentiated AFM diagnosis requires an MRI.

Officials with the Alabama Department of Public Health don’t know when the cases were originally reported. However, they want to stress how rare this condition is. A person’s chance of getting AFM is approximately 1 in a million. For more information about AFM visit the CDC.gov.

Read Kelly Smith’s full story on WHNT 19.