Little is known about Zika: scientists know it may be linked to the birth defect microcephaly, but new evidence suggests that it also has the potential to cause temporary paralysis. Zika survivors from an outbreak in Tahiti two years ago were recently the focus of a study that began to get to the bottom of just what Zika might be capable of.
According to ABC, the rapid spread of Zika has already been declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization. This particular outbreak seemed to have originated in the South Pacific last year and has since spread, with several confirmed cases in the Americas. Not only might Zika infection lead to birth complications, it may also be linked to Guillain-Barre syndrome, a neurological illness that, in most cases, lasts a few weeks.
Guillain-Barre occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the nervous system for seemingly no reason. It can lead to muscle weakness and respiratory problems. Around 5 percent of patients end up succumbing and dying to the disease. Not only that, but survivors of the illness claim that it can lead to temporary paralysis.
Researchers in Tahiti, one the virus’ starting points, sought to understand more about the virus an so began to analyze blood samples of people diagnosed with Guillain-Barre from the 2013-2014 Zika outbreak. The results show that almost every person examined showed signs of a previous Zika infection, leading scientists to believe Zika leads to the development of Guillain-Barre syndrome.
“The evidence that links Zika virus with Guillain-Barre syndrome is now substantially more compelling,” said Peter Barlow, an infectious diseases expert out of the Edinburgh Napier University who commented on the study.