New Delhi [India], January 29 (HBTV): As Maharashtra registers over 100 cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), the Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Dr Rajiv Bahl, stated that the cases are under investigation as a team of experts have collected various samples.
‘Samples of stool and blood of those infected are being tested at the NIV Pune lab, but we have yet to get any definite leads on the cause behind the spread,’ Dr Bahl said.
He mentioned that the cause or link of GBS is found only in 40 per cent of cases. The Campylobacter jejuni bacteria was found in four stool samples collected from 21 GBS patients in Pune, which were tested by the National Institute for Virology (NIV), Pune, while norovirus was found in some.
‘We received some cases that had diarrhoea, but according to the medical literature, norovirus doesn't lead to GBS. So, this is still under investigation, and the cause has yet to be identified,’ the ICMR DG said.
The Union Health Ministry has deputed a high-level multi-disciplinary team to Pune to aid state authorities in instituting interventions and managing the spurt in suspected and confirmed cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in the city.
The central team sent to Maharashtra comprises seven experts from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delhi, NIMHANS Bengaluru, the Regional Office of Health & Family Welfare, and the National Institute for Virology (NIV), Pune. Three experts from NIV, Pune, were already supporting the local authorities.
The team is working closely with the state health departments and taking stock of the on-ground situation to recommend necessary public health interventions. The central team has been tasked with monitoring the situation and coordinating with the state.
Water samples from different parts of the city have been sent for chemical and biological analysis to the Public Health Laboratory. ‘An appeal has been made to private medical practitioners to notify any GBS patient to the respective public health authorities. Citizens should not panic – the state's health department is prepared to implement preventive and control measures,’ sources told ANI.
Maharashtra reported its first suspected death linked to GBS in Solapur, while the number of cases of the immunological nerve disorder in Pune has crossed over 100.
‘The expert team from the research and other departments is closely working at ground level and monitoring the situation,’ according to a statement from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
What are the symptoms of Guillain-Barré Syndrome?
GBS can cause sudden weakness in hands or legs and even paralysis. People may have trouble walking or experience weakness with sudden onset and diarrhoea (for sustained periods). Guidance has also been issued for citizens to maintain water quality, such as drinking boiled water, and ensuring food is fresh and clean. The infection can be avoided by not keeping cooked and uncooked food items together.
Describing the disease's progression, Dr. Praveen Gupta, Principal Director & Chief of Neurology at Fortis Hospital, said, ‘GBS occurs when antibodies, created to fight bacterial or viral infections like Campylobacter jejuni or respiratory infections, cross-react with the peripheral nerves. This leads to ascending paralysis, starting in the legs and moving upward. In severe cases, patients may lose the ability to breathe due to thoracic muscle weakness and require ventilatory support.’
Treatments such as intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and plasma exchange have revolutionised outcomes, but timely intervention remains critical. Recognizing the symptoms early is crucial for effective treatment.
According to Dr Bhargavi Ramanujam, Senior Consultant in Neurology at PSRI Hospital, ‘GBS typically starts with weakness in the legs, spreading upward. This may be accompanied by slight sensory loss, difficulty passing urine, or fluctuating blood pressure. Weakness in facial muscles can cause drooling, further signalling the onset of this serious condition.’
(ANI)