Peru: Fears of a possible Guillain-Barré syndrome outbreak in Trujillo

Event

On Wednesday, May 9, Peruvian health officials issued an epidemiological alert over a suspected outbreak of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), an immune system and neurological disorder believed to be linked to the Zika virus. According to local sources, 19 suspected cases have been reported in Trujillo (La Libertad region) in recent weeks. Authorities have deployed medical experts to the region and have implemented public health measures to hinder further spread of the disease.

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 a 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 thought to be 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. Transmission of the virus is also possible via sexual intercourse.

Advice

Individuals in Trujillo, and Peru more generally, are advised to take measures to protect themselves from 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.).