Is there a link between the Zika virus and Guillain-Barre syndrome?

There is a link between the Zika virus and Guillain-Barre syndrome. A small number of people who have been infected with the Zika virus have developed Guillain-Barre, in which the immune system attacks nerve cells, leading to weakness and sometimes paralysis.

A study has linked the Zika virus -- a mosquito-carried disease -- to Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a disease of the nervous system that can cause muscle weakness or temporary paralysis. Guillain-Barré syndrome is an autoimmune disease in which the person’s own immune system attacks nerve cells in the arms, legs and other areas of the body. Guillain-Barré syndrome can affect all age groups, especially men over the age of 50. International experts continue to explore the link between Zika and other conditions, including Guillain-Barré syndrome.