KINGSTON, Jamaica — An urgent appeal for blood is being made on behalf of former People’s National Party (PNP) Senator Delano Franklyn.

OBSERVER ONLINE understands that Franklyn has been admitted at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) since early September and is in serious condition.

The reason for Franklyn’s current hospitalisation is not known.

Among those making the appeal for blood is PNP General Secretary, Dr Dayton Campbell, on his Whatsapp page. In a status post, Campbell, a medical doctor, said “Comrade Delano Franklyn is in need of blood”. It said he needs 10 units each day and directs that the donations should be made in Franklyn’s name at the Blood Bank or at the UHWI.

The receipt should be submitted to the head nurse at Annex UHWI.

An attorney-at-law, Franklyn, 62, also served as Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.

In 2016 he publicly stated that he had contracted Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) after he was infected with the mosquito-borne Zika virus. GBS is a rapid-onset of muscle weakness caused by the immune system damaging the peripheral nervous system.

The initial symptoms are typically changes in sensation or pain along with muscle weakness, beginning in the feet and hands. This often spreads to the arms and upper body with both sides being involved.

The symptoms develop over hours to a few weeks. During the acute phase, the disorder can be life-threatening with about 15 per cent of patients developing weakness of the breathing muscles requiring mechanical ventilation.