Mumbai: Mumbai has reported its first fatality due to Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), bringing the total death toll from the disease in Maharashtra to eight. The deceased, a 53-year-old man from Wadala, worked as a ward boy at Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) B N Desai Hospital. He was admitted to Nair Hospital, where he was placed on a ventilator but succumbed to the illness, according to reports.
This tragic incident follows Mumbai’s first confirmed GBS case, a 64-year-old woman diagnosed with the syndrome days earlier. The woman had a history of diarrhoea and fever, followed by ascending paralysis, a key symptom of GBS.
Meanwhile, authorities in Pune have taken swift action to contain the GBS outbreak. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has sealed 30 private water supply plants in Nanded village, Dhayari, and areas along Sinhgad Road, which have been identified as the epicentre of the outbreak. The decision was made after water samples from these plants were found unfit for consumption.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome is a rare neurological disorder in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nervous system. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the condition often develops after an infection with certain bacteria or viruses. It affects nerves controlling muscle movement, touch, temperature, and pain sensations, leading to symptoms such as muscle weakness, loss of sensation in the limbs, and, in severe cases, breathing or swallowing difficulties.
While the exact cause of GBS remains unclear, it is often linked to prior infections, vaccinations, or major surgeries. These factors can trigger an overactive immune response, leading to an attack on the body’s nerves. With rising concerns over the spread of the disease, health authorities in Maharashtra are closely monitoring the situation.
