Narcolepsy Linkโ Confirmed in Rare Cases Following โขSwine Flu Vaccination
Berlin – A specific โprotein within the swineโ flu virus, and perhaps amplified by the now-discontinued pandemrix vaccine, has been definitively linked to a rare increase in cases ofโ narcolepsy,โ aโข chronic neurological disorder affecting the brain’sโ ability to regulateโ sleep-wake cycles. research indicates the immune response โtriggered by โขboth vaccination andโค infection can, in certainโข individuals, โmistakenly target nerve cells responsible for producing hypocretin, a key messengerโ substance in the brain.
The connection emerged after observing a slight increase โin narcolepsy diagnoses following the 2009 swine flu pandemic. Scientists discoveredโข that the surface โprotein of โthe swine flu โvirus could provoke an immune โฃresponse โdirected against hypocretin-producing โnerve cells or โขtheir receptors. This affect,however,only โขmanifestsโค when combined with โฃspecific genetic predispositions.The Pandemrix โคvaccine,used extensively during the pandemic,contained this surface protein and a vaccine amplifier that may โhave contributed to the increased risk.
Pandemrix is no longer in use within the European Union, nor is the specific vaccine amplifier it contained. Importantly, health officials emphasize that individuals vaccinated with Pandemrix are not at continued risk, as cases developed within โฃdaysโ to weeks of vaccinationโค – indicating โaโ direct,โค rather than long-term, effect. Theโค rarity โฃofโค the side effect โinitially hindered โฃits detection in clinical trials due to insufficient participant numbers.
