Justin Bieber diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, cancels shows

Canadian popstar Justin Bieber has cancelled a series of shows on his latest tour after a virus caused “full paralysis” on one side of his face.

Bieber said he had been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome after a virus had damaged the nerves in his ear.

According to medical experts, Ramsay Hunt syndrome is when a shingles outbreak affects the facial nerve near someone’s ears.

“It is from this virus that attacks the nerve in my ear in my facial nerves and has caused my face to have paralysis,” he said.

“As you can see, this eye is not blinking. I can’t smile on this side of my face. This nostril will not move, so there’s full paralysis on this side of my face.”

In an Instagram video posted, the 28 year-old says he tries to smile, blink and move his face but parts of his face would not react.

Bieber who is currently on his Justice tour in North America, has asked for his fans to be patient.

“So for those who are frustrated by my cancellations of the next shows, I’m just physically, obviously not able of doing them,” he said. “This is pretty serious as you can see.”

“I wish this wasn’t the case but obviously my body is telling me I gotta slow down.

“I hope you guys understand, and I’ll be using this time to just rest and relax and get back to 100% so I can do what I was born to do. But in the meantime, this ain’t it.

“We don’t know how much time it is going to be but it’s going to be OK, I have hope and I trust God. I trust it is all for a reason. I’m not sure what that is right now but in the meantime I am going to rest.”

[ADDITIONAL INPUT: NEWS AGENCIES]