Are we heading towards a new pandemic? Will there be a new lockdown?- Are some questions that arise in minds as we see The Guillain-Barre Syndrome make its way through the country. Historically speaking, India has experienced GBS outbreaks before. One case that gained attention was in the Northern region, 2019- A child died due to the severity of the symptoms that presented caused by GBS.
Now the question arises, what exactly is The Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)?
The Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is a rare neurological disorder where one's own immune system attacks the peripheral nerves of the nervous system. The initial symptoms that occur due to GBS are numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness, which can escalate to paralysis. It often begins tingling and weakness starting in the feet and legs and spreading up to the upper body and arms.
While the exact cause remains uncertain, many cases are preceded by infections, particularly with the bacterium "Campylobacter jejuni", commonly found in undercooked poultry and contaminated water. The link between the two was discovered in the 1900s in the rural China, where the pathogen was common in chickens and GBS occurred every monsoon because the kids played in the puddles of the water which was contaminated of duck and chicken droppings.
What is the current scenario?
As of early February 2025, at least five individuals have succumbed to suspected GBS in Maharashtra, with the majority of cases reported in Pune. Out of 163 reported cases, 21 patients are on ventilator support, and 48 have been admitted to intensive care units. In response to the outbreak, the Pune Municipal Corporation, with assistance from the World Health Organization (WHO), has initiated public health interventions emphasizing food and hand hygiene, as well as the consumption of safe water. Authorities have examined over 60,000 households, collected 160 water samples for testing, and advised residents to drink boiled water and consume properly cooked food.
No comments:
Post a Comment