GENEVA—
The World Health
Organization reports evidence is accumulating of a causal link
between the Zika virus and two neurological disorders - microcephaly, which
causes brain abnormalities in newborn babies - and Guillain-Barre Syndrome,
which can result in paralysis.The latest update shows 47 countries reporting
transmission of the Zika virus. Of those, nine countries, mainly in Latin
America, are reporting a potential association between the Zika virus infection
and cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome.
The WHO says Brazil is still the only country where it is proven
that women infected with the Zika virus have given birth to babies with
microcephaly. It says a linkage is suspected in 641 cases.Bruce Aylward, the WHO's executive director
for outbreaks and health emergencies, says a study from French Polynesia
presents the most compelling evidence to date linking Guillain-Barre Syndrome
with the Zika virus. Aylward says scientists have studied cases which
occurred in 2013 and 2014.
“What they found was 100 percent of the
people that had Guillain-Barre had evidence of infection and then …that again
is the strongest evidence so far that this may be a causal relationship,"
he said.Guillain-Barre Syndrome can cause a rapid onset of paralysis, usually
involving the lower limbs, so people are unable to walk. The neurological
disorder progresses very rapidly, but the majority of people recover.Aylward
says the risk of contracting Guillain-Barre is very low, with about one in
5,000 people becoming sick.
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