Zika linked to deadly brain inflammation in new case study

An 81-year-old man reportedly suffered meningoencephalitis — inflammation of the brain — after being infected with Zika virus. The case was relayed in the New England Journal of Medicine by a team of French physicians and scientists.

The octogenarian man's brain inflammation was similar to swelling elicited by many pathogens, including Zika's relative the West Nile virus. However, the man tested negative for infections other than Zika.

Zika has previously been tied neurological debilitating conditions such as microcephaly, Guillain-Barré syndrome and most recently paralysis by way of acute myelitis. Meningoencephalitis can now be added to the list.

More articles on the Zika virus: 
New York health department to offer free Zika testing for pregnant women 
WHO: Sexual transmission of Zika virus more common than we thought  
OPM encourages teleworking for feds in Zika hot spots 

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