Peru: Guillain-Barré syndrome outbreak in Trujillo continues /update 1

Event

Health officials announced that, as of mid-May, there have been 32 confirmed cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), as well as ten more suspected cases of the disorder, reported in Trujillo since January 2018. Authorities have deployed medical experts to the region and have implemented public health measures to hinder further spread of the disease.

GBS is an immune system and neurological disorder believed to be linked to the Zika virus,  a mosquito-borne disease. At least 33 suspected cases of Zika have been reported in the Piura region in 2018. There were 500 confirmed cases and 5269 suspected cases of Zika nationwide in 2017.

Context

Initial symptoms of GBS include numbness and tingling as well as back and muscle pain, followed by weakness in the extremities that progressively worsens over the course of days or weeks. If left untreated, GBS can lead to paralysis and cardiac arrest. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), GBS is likely triggered by the Zika virus.

Symptoms of Zika - fever, headache (behind the eyes), conjunctivitis, rash, vomiting, and muscle and joint pain - can appear two to seven days following contraction of the disease, although the virus is asymptomatic in approximately 80 percent of cases. In addition to spreading via mosquitoes, transmission of the virus is also possible via sexual intercourse.

Advice

Individuals in Trujillo, and those in Peru more generally, are advised to consult a medical professional if presenting with the above symptoms. In addition, it is advisable to take measures to limit exposure to mosquito bites - e.g. by wearing covering clothing, using insect repellent, and sleeping under mosquito-netting or in an air conditioned room - and to eliminate possible mosquito breeding grounds (small pockets of fresh water, such as rain water that has collected in cans, bottles, tires, flower pots, clogged gutters, etc.).
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