Health officials try to see if Zika links to Guillain-Barre

World Today

As Zika spreads across countries and continents, health officials are concerned about a rise in another serious condition believed linked to the virus: Guillain-Barre syndrome.

The disease causes the body’s immune system to attack its own nerves, and at its worst, can cause full paralysis. Most patients eventually recover, though symptoms can linger for years.

CCTV America’s Lucrecia Franco reports from Rio de Janeiro.
Follow Lucrecia C. Franco on Twitter @LucreciaFranco

More Details:

  • Much of the focus on the outbreak of the Zika virus has been its suspected link with the microcephaly birth defect.
  • In Brazil, more than 600 cases have been confirmed and more than 4,000 cases are under investigation.
  • While the evidence of a link between Guillain-Barre and Zika is growing, that link has not been fully proven.