CDC set to understand the Zika Virus and the Guillain-Barre Syndrome link

25 Feb 2019

The outbreak of the Zika Virus has kept the health personnel all over the United States in a state of shock. The mosquito borne virus, has created a chaos all along. The WHO believes that the Zika virus will affect all the American Countries except for Canada and Chile. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believe that they have found out some link to the Zika Virus in Puerto Rico. CDC believes that there might just be a chance that the Zika Virus increases the possibility a rare neurological disorder.

The experts believe that Zika Virus can possibly lead to a rare neurological disease, known as Guillain-Barre syndrome. With the intensification of the outbreak in the United States, the CDC is looking after all the after effects the Zika Virus can have. According to the statement by Dr. James Sejvar, a neuroepidemiologist at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, “Right now we’re focusing on Puerto Rico, where we’ve just started seeing cases of Zika as well as cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome”.

He also added, “In order to get ahead of the curve, we’re going to try to rapidly establish active surveillance for Guillain-Barre in Puerto Rico in the hopes that we’re catching the outbreak early.”
The Puerto Rico Government declared an emergency due to the outbreak of the Zika Virus, as the cases climbed to 22. The government also noted a fair rise in the number of the rare Guillain-Barre syndrome. The Guillain-Barre is a rare neurological disease that affects the human body and attacks the immune and the nervous system after exposure to the virus. The syndrome can also be initiated due to exposure to other bacteria and parasites as well.

WHO has already declared a worldwide emergency owing to the outbreak of the Zika virus. Dr. James Sejvar has stated that more studies are required in order to understand the connection between the rare Guillain-Barre syndrome and Zika Virus.

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