(CNN) A new study lends support to one of the biggest fears about Zika virus: It might increase the risk of the rare neurological syndrome Guillain-Barre. Years before Zika virus first appeared in Latin America, it spread from Africa and Asia to Pacific islands. From 2013 to 2014, French Polynesia had 32,000 suspected cases of Zika virus. During this same period, there was also an uptick in cases of Guillain-Barre. Researchers in French Polynesia and Europe looked at those 42 cases of Guillain-Barre in the Pacific Island nation between October 2013 and April 2014. They asked whether there was any evidence these patients had been exposed to Zika virus.A study finds evidence that people in French Polynesia affected by Guillain-Barre were exposed to Zika virusResearchers estimate that about 1 in 4,000 Zika infectious could lead to the rare neurological syndromeGuillain-Barre causes muscle weakness and paralysis, and many patients take weeks to months to recover
The researchers estimate, based on the rates of _ and Guillain-Barre in French Polynesia, that one in 4,000 people infected with Zika could develop the neurological syndrome. The researchers found that 98% of the _-Barre patients had antibodies to Zika, suggesting they had been infected with the virus, compared with only 56% of the individuals in a control group that did not have Guillain-Barre. The researchers found that 98% of the Guillain-Barre patients had antibodies to _, suggesting they had been infected with the virus, compared with only 56% of the individuals in a control group that did not have Guillain-Barre. The researchers found that 98% of the Guillain-Barre patients had antibodies to Zika, suggesting they had been infected with the virus, compared with only 56% of the individuals in a control group that did not have _-Barre. The researchers found that 98% of the Guillain-Barre patients had antibodies to Zika, suggesting they had been infected with the virus, compared with only 56% of the individuals in a control group that did not have Guillain-_. In addition, 88% of patients had experienced typical symptoms of _, including fever, rash and joint pain, usually about a week before developing Guillain-Barre. In addition, 88% of patients had experienced typical symptoms of Zika, including fever, rash and joint pain, usually about a week before developing _-Barre. In addition, 88% of patients had experienced typical symptoms of Zika, including fever, rash and joint pain, usually about a week before developing Guillain-_. None of these resulted in _-Barre, but that is not surprising considering how rare it appears to be for infected individuals to develop this syndrome, Hotez said. None of these resulted in Guillain-_, but that is not surprising considering how rare it appears to be for infected individuals to develop this syndrome, Hotez said. Although Guillain-_ is very rare, affecting about one in 100,000 people in the United States, the study suggests that Zika could make it less rare. Although Guillain-Barre is very rare, affecting about one in 100,000 people in the United States, the study suggests that _ could make it less rare. The researchers estimate, based on the rates of Zika and _-Barre in French Polynesia, that one in 4,000 people infected with Zika could develop the neurological syndrome. The researchers estimate, based on the rates of Zika and Guillain-_ in French Polynesia, that one in 4,000 people infected with Zika could develop the neurological syndrome. The researchers estimate, based on the rates of Zika and Guillain-Barre in French Polynesia, that one in 4,000 people infected with _ could develop the neurological syndrome. "It's an important question that remains unanswered: What is it about the subset of people that get _-Barre?". "It's an important question that remains unanswered: What is it about the subset of people that get Guillain-_?". _-Barre is an autoimmune disorder in which the body's immune system attacks the nervous system. Guillain-_ is an autoimmune disorder in which the body's immune system attacks the nervous system.