With the patient’s symptoms, her Cranial Nerve VII (Facial nerve) has been affected by the viral infection. This nerve involves taste as one of its sensory functions and causes contraction of the muscles for facial expression. In addition, damage to this nerve due to viral infection eventually causes the paralysis of muscles, loss of taste, decreased salivation, and loss of ability to close the eyes, even during sleep.
Reference:
Tortora, G. & Derrickson, B.(2012). Principles of anatomy and physiology. John Wiley & Sons