Swine Flu Vaccine and a Paralyzing Disorder

A disturbing OpEdNews.com article led me to find out if there was truth to the claim that swine flu vaccination causes a paralyzing muscular disorder.

In 1976, concerns about a global pandemic swine flu led the U.S. government on a national vaccination program. After an increasing number of vaccinated persons developed a rare neurological disorder called Guillain-Barre Syndrome, the government stopped the program.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is a rare disorder where the body’s immune system attack the nervous system, causing a wide range of symptoms that range from mild tingling sensation to complete paralysis. In most cases the patient completely recovers but there is no known cure for the syndrome. The exact cause of the the syndrome is unknown, but the most common trigger is bacterial infection from uncooked foods. Other triggers include surgery, HIV and rabies vaccinations.

The current swine flu pandemic IS confirmed so there is a need to protect ourselves against the !(H1N1) virus. But the CDC website does discuss the association between the 1976 swine flu and Guillain-Barre syndrome and several studies found an increased risk for developing GBS following swine flu vaccination used in 1976. An incidence of 1 case of GBS in one million vaccinations has also been found, so the side-effect to influenza vaccination is considered rare.

Nevertheless, with the current global swine flu pandemic spreading uncontrollably, and governments rushing to produce pandemic vaccines against the A(H1N1) influenza, the question remains – are we at risk for similar neurological disorders?

Image: Newscom