News from the battlefront: Zika virus–associated Guillain-Barré syndrome in Brazil

In the wake of the Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic, international resources have been dedicated to combating the increasing rates of ZIKV-associated microcephaly. However, other severe neurologic complications, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), have received less attention and funding. In July 2015, 76 patients with recent symptoms suggestive of ZIKV infection with neurologic syndromes were identified in the state of Bahia, northeast Brazil, of which 42 (55%) were confirmed GBS.¹ In November 2015, the Aggeu Magalhães Research Center of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation reported that ZIKV infection was found in 10 out of 224 suspected dengue cases.¹ Seven of the 10 positive samples belonged to patients with a neurologic syndrome.

Neurology 2016