Mumbai GBS Outbreak: City reports first death, Maharashtra toll rises to 8

GBS

Mumbai reported its first death due to Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), on Wednesday.

A 53-year-old ward boy from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) VN Desai Hospital succumbed to the rare nerve disorder at Nair Hospital after a prolonged battle with the virus.

As per the Times of India report, a 10th-grade girl from Palghar has also been admitted to the hospital after testing positive for GBS.

With this, the total number of suspected GBS deaths in Maharashtra has now risen to eight. The first case in Mumbai was reported on Saturday when a 64-year-old woman tested positive for the rare disorder.

Pune district has been the hardest hit in the state, with the number of suspected and confirmed GBS cases reaching 197, according to health department officials. Out of these, 172 cases have been diagnosed as GBS. The number of deaths has risen to seven in the district after a 37-year-old man passed away on Sunday night.

The cases are spread across different areas in Pune, including 40 patients from Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) areas, 92 from newly incorporated villages in the PMC, 29 from Pimpri Chinchwad, 28 from Pune Rural, and eight from other districts.

According to Pune health authorities, 104 patients have been discharged, while 50 remain in the ICU, and 20 are on ventilator support.

The state health department continues to monitor the situation while the health officials have urged the public to remain vigilant and seek medical attention if symptoms of GBS, such as muscle weakness and tingling sensations, occur.

What is Guillain-Barré Syndrome?

Guillain-Barré Syndrome is a condition in which the body's immune system attacks the nerves. The different forms of GBS are commonly known as Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP), Miller Fisher Syndrome (MFS), Acute Motor Axonal Neuropathy (AMAN), and Acute Motor-Sensory Axonal Neuropathy (AMSAN). According to reports, GBS can cause numbness, weakness, or paralysis. The first symptoms include weakness and tingling in the hands and feet.

What is the line of treatment?

Treatments such as intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and plasma exchange have revolutionized outcomes, but timely intervention remains critical. According to doctors, 80% of affected patients regain the ability to walk unaided within six months of hospital discharge, though some may take a year or longer to fully recover limb function.