Peru has declared a national epidemiological alert to the suspicion of an outbreak of Guillain Barré syndrome, a neurological and immune disease that paralyzes the muscles of the arms and legs.
The Ministry of Health reported on Wednesday, according to El País, that 19 cases have been registered so far and the hospitals need to strengthen their surveillance and biosafety to detect new patients with this disease.
This figure is higher than usual and they have been mostly registered in the city of Trujillo. Four cases were detected in Lima as well.
“Every year you can expect 10 cases, there are double” now, the medical specialist Elmer Huerta illustrated to RPP radio from Washington, according to information from El País.
To prevent more cases, EsSalud issued the following recommendations:
- Wash your hands frequently;
- Do not eat in places of doubtful hygiene;
- Wash fruits and vegetables that will be eaten raw;
- Avoid contact with people with respiratory infections;
- Use mosquito repellent or mosquito nets to avoid being bitten by an insect;
- If you show signs of muscle weakness that last less than a week, go to the closest EsSalud establishment as soon as possible.
According to the Ministry of Health, the cases of Guillain Barré syndrome occur worldwide at 1 per 100,000 inhabitants per year. This consists of a rare disorder that causes the immune system to attack the peripheral nervous system (which connects the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body). The injury of these nerves makes the transmission of signals difficult, and as a result, muscles have problems responding to brain signals.
No one knows the cause of this syndrome. Sometimes, it is triggered by an infection, surgery or a vaccine, you can read in Medline Plus.
(Source: Press Release EsSalud, El País, Medline Plus)
(Cover Photo Public Domain Pictures)
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