The pop star Justin Bieber announced on social media that he is suffering from Ramsay Hunt syndrome. In a video on Instagram Bieber showed his condition stating that the infection caused him to paralyze half of his face. Due to this health problem, the singer told fans that he will have to cancel a series of concerts until he can resume the movements on the right side of his face. “As you can probably see from my face, I have this syndrome called Ramsay Hunt syndrome,” he says in the video. “This eye doesn’t blink. I can’t smile on this side of my face. This nostril doesn’t move, so there is complete paralysis on this side of my face. ‘
Justin Bieber, illness and concerts
“For those who are frustrated with the cancellations of my upcoming shows, I can say that I am obviously unable” to perform, adds Bieber. “It will get better, I’m doing a lot of exercises to get my face back to normal, it will take some time.” The pop star has already canceled two concerts scheduled in Toronto: “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but my illness has worsened and I have to cancel on the orders of the doctors,” the singer said on his social profiles. Scotiabank Arena has informed fans on Twitter that tickets sold for the two dates will be accepted once performances reschedule. Last year, Bieber reported that he contracted Lyme disease, a disease caused by a tick bite common in many US states, which had overlapped with chronic mononucleosis.
Ramsay Hunt syndrome
Bieber says he did facial exercises to try to regain the movement, but it will take some time to recover. “I wish it wasn’t, but obviously my body is telling me I have to slow down,” he says. “I hope you understand, and I am using this time to rest, relax and return to 100% so that I can do what I was born for.” The virus that causes Ramsay Hunt syndrome is called varicella-zoster virus, which belongs to the herpes virus family; it’s the same pathogen behind chickenpox in children and shingles in adults, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders.