Mumbai has reported its first case of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) amid a rise in cases in the neighbouring city of Pune. A 64-year-old woman has been infected, confirmed Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials.
Talking to PTI, BMC’s commissioner and its state-appointed administrator Bhushan Gagrani confirmed that the 64-year-old female GBS patient was currently undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a civic-run hospital.
BMC officials said the woman, who resides in the Andheri East area of the city, was hospitalised with a history of fever and diarrhoea that was followed by ascending paralysis. Further details about the patient are awaited.
The number of suspected GBS deaths in Maharashtra’s Pune district stood at six, while the count of suspected cases there was 173.
Out of these, 140 patients have been diagnosed with the disease, and one death has been confirmed as related to GBS.
The Health Department said, as quoted by PTI, “A total of 173 suspected patients have been detected till date. Out of these, 140 patients were diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). A total of 6 deaths have occurred. Of these, 1 death was confirmed as GBS and 5 suspected deaths were reported.”
In a swift response to the growing GBS outbreak, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) had sealed 30 private water supply plants in the Nanded village, Dhayari and adjoining areas on Sinhgad Road of Pune city.
These areas have been identified as the epicentre of the outbreak. The action was taken on these plants in the last two days, said a PMC official on Thursday.
What is Guillain-Barré Syndrome?
GBS is a rare autoimmune condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nerves, leading to symptoms like numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness that can progress to muscular paralysis.
In severe instances, it can impair breathing, necessitating ventilator assistance. The mortality rate ranges from 3 to 13 per cent, influenced by the severity and access to quality medical care.
In GBS, severe cases can result in near-total paralysis. The prevalence of this disorder is more common among adults and in males, though people of all ages can be affected.
