Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) has caused 21 deaths in India so far. As the death toll in Maharashtra--the state that first reported the condition in which the immune system attacks the nerves--rises, other states such as Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have begun to ramp up surveillance. Amid this, a neurologist from Apollo Hospitals in Hyderabad has shared nine pointers to reduce the risk of getting infected.
Dr Sudhir Kumar noted that water contamination with campylobacter jejuni bacteria is believed to be primarily responsible for most cases of GBS in this current outbreak. The condition occurs within a couple of weeks following a respiratory or gastro-intestinal infection due to a faulty immune response that attacks its own nervous system in addition to attacking the infection.
"Reducing the risk of respiratory or gastrointestinal infections, therefore, would reduce the risk of GBS too," he said.
Measures to reduce the risk of respiratory infections:
1.) Avoid contact with people having fever, cough, cold or runny nose,
2.) Wear face mask in public or crowded places,
3.) Frequent hand washing,
4.) Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with hands
5.) Annual flu vaccine (after discussing with your doctor)
Measures to reduce gastro-intestinal infections:
1.) Avoid eating salads or uncooked veggies outside,
2.) Avoid having raw or uncooked meat, chicken or eggs,
3.) Consume only pasteurized milk
4.) Consume clean water (which has been disinfected or boiled)
Dr Kumar further advised people not to panic if they develop symptoms of GBS such as tingling, numbness, and weakness of legs and arms despite taking all the precautions. "Consult a neurologist, as early treatment results in successful outcome in a majority of patients suffering from GBS," he said.
Maharashtra remains the hardest-hit state
Maharashtra accounted for 17 of the deaths caused by GBS in the country. In Pune, a 34-year-old man from Wagholi died at Sassoon General Hospital on Saturday, marking the ninth GBS-related death in the city since the outbreak began on January 5.
Apart from Maharashtra, deaths have also been reported in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, with each state confirming one fatality.
Amid the growing outbreak, Union junior minister for AYUSH, Prataprao Jadhav, suggested the possibility of imposing travel restrictions in affected areas. "If the disease is spreading from one region to another, imposing travel restrictions may become necessary," Jadhav said while speaking to reporters in Buldhana on Monday.
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