A 53-year-old patient diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) succumbed in Mumbai on Wednesday, marking the city's first fatality from the rare neurological disorder and the eighth in Maharashtra, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner Bhushan Gagrani confirmed, as reported by ANI.
A 37-year-old driver from Pune succumbed to GBS on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Mumbai reported its first case of the rare neurological disorder on Friday after a 64-year-old woman was diagnosed, civic officials confirmed. Speaking to PTI, BMC commissioner and state-appointed administrator Bhushan Gagrani stated that the patient is currently undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a civic-run hospital.
The number of suspected and confirmed GBS cases in Maharashtra’s Pune region has increased to 197 after five new cases were detected. A health department official stated that the tally includes two fresh cases and three previously identified ones.
What is GBS?GBS is an autoimmune disorder that often follows a viral infection, leading to paralysis in all four limbs and, in some instances, affecting the neck, respiratory, and swallowing muscles. While GBS is more prevalent among adults and males, it can affect individuals of any age and gender.
Symptoms and SeverityIn severe cases, GBS can lead to near-total paralysis. The condition typically begins with weakness in the lower limbs in about 95% of cases, while in the remaining 5%, it starts in the upper limbs.