The mosquito-borne Zika virus linked to a surge in birth defects in Latin America may also be behind a rising number of cases of another disease that can cause paralysis, increasing concerns about this summer’s Olympics in Brazil.
Several Latin American countries with Zika outbreaks are also reporting rising incidences of Guillain-Barré syndrome, the World Health Organization said Saturday.
A typically rare neurological disorder, Guillain-Barré causes gradual weakness in the legs, arms and upper body, and in some cases, total paralysis. WHO said the cause of the increase remains unknown.
Venezuela has reported 252 cases occurring at the same time and place as Zika, including three cases — one fatal — in which Zika virus infection was confirmed.
Most studies of Guillain-Barré suggest that over half of patients recover by six months. But one study in Brazil found that nearly 85 percent of patients still had motor deficits or weakness six months later.