MARTINIQUE - Two people suffering from a rare paralysing condition on the Caribbean island of Martinique had indications of being infected with the Zika virus, French doctors reported on Thursday.

The case adds to an expanding body of evidence that the Zika virus could cause Guillain-Barre syndrome, a nerve condition that causes paralysis and occasionally occurs after infections.

"Both patients were found to have Zika virus in their urine at hospital admission," said one of the doctors.

Researchers have discovered links between the condition and the Zika virus, prompting an increase in tests that can detect the mosquito-borne virus faster.