'Polio' illness paralyses children in California

A group of children have developed a rare, polio-like syndrome within the past year that quickly paralysed one or more of their arms or legs, researchers in California say.

Dr Keith Van Haren of Stanford University says about 20 cases have been identified in the past year and a half – the the only ones in the US. The five cases studied by the doctor had been vaccinated against polio.