Is Justin Bieber's Ramsay Hunt Syndrome Contagious?

Is Justin Bieber's Ramsay Hunt Syndrome contagious? Is it curable?

Bieber shocked his fans when he uploaded a video of him after postponing three shows on his supposed 2022 Justice World Tour.

In the video in question, which he posted on Instagram, the 28-year-old singer revealed that he was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome. He clearly showed signs of partial facial paralysis while explaining his condition to the public.

"Obviously, as you can probably see from my face, I have this syndrome called Ramsay Hunt syndrome and it is from this virus that attacks the nerve in my ear and my facial nerves and has caused my face to have paralysis," he said.

Although he and his wife, Hailey, updated the fans about his improving status, questions about whether the syndrome is contagious or not emerged following his decision to postpone his Summerfest appearance and Justice World Tour dates.

Is Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, Justin Bieber's Paralysis, Contagious?

Bieber's decision to cancel his in-person events sparked buzz that the Ramsay Hunt Syndrome might be contagious.

But it does not seem to be the case at all.

According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Justin Bieber's health issue is a rare neurological disorder caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox in children and shingles (herpes zoster) in adults.

It is widely known that the virus causes highly contagious chickenpox and shingles. But Healthline clarified that the Ramsay Hunt Syndrome itself is not contagious on its own.

Instead, people who contract the varicella-zoster virus if they have never had a previous infection can lead to chickenpox or shingles.

With that said, it is safe to say that the Ramsay Hunt Syndrome is, indeed, extremely rare unless the VCZ attacks the geniculate ganglion of cranial nerve VII.

As for Bieber's recovery, experts have explained why it would take him months to heal. What's worse is that not all patients can fully recover from it.

A neurologist at the Mount Sinai Center for Headache and Facial Pain, Dr. Anna Pace, told "TODAY" show that young and healthy people can recover quickly.

Meanwhile, USC Keck School of Medicine's Dr. John Oghalai - who treats patients like Bieber - explained to Rolling Stone that Bieber's partial facial paralysis is a good sign that he will have a speedy recovery.

"Some people, it takes weeks. Some people, it takes months," Dr. Michael Ison, a professor of infectious diseases at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, disclosed.

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