1st GBS death reported in Mumbai
After the surge in Pune, Mumbai reported its first death due to Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), on Wednesday as a 53-year-old man succumbed to the rare nerve disorder after a prolonged battle with the virus.;
Mumbai: After the surge in Pune, Mumbai reported its first death due to Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), on Wednesday as a 53-year-old man succumbed to the rare nerve disorder after a prolonged battle with the virus. With this, the total number of suspected GBS deaths in Maharashtra has now risen to eight.
The patient, an employee of BMC’s V N Desai Hospital, was admitted to BMC-run Nair Hospital on January 23, 2025, after experiencing weakness in his legs. He was later diagnosed with GBS and placed on a ventilator due to respiratory distress. However, while receiving medical care, the patient succumbed to the illness on Monday, February 10.
According to BMC officials, the deceased had returned from Pune, the epicentre of the GBS outbreak, about a fortnight ago. But he had no prior symptoms of fever or diarrhoea and had a history of blood pressure issues.
The death has come just days after Mumbai reported its first confirmed case of GBS in a 64-year-old woman. She had a history of diarrhoea and fever, which was soon followed by ascending paralysis – a characteristic symptom of the syndrome.
Meanwhile, a 16-year-old girl from Palghar is also currently undergoing treatment for GBS at the same hospital. She had experienced fever before being diagnosed but is reportedly responding well to treatment.
To minimise the risk of infections that can potentially trigger GBS, the BMC has issued several public health advisories. These advisories recommend boiling drinking water before consumption, consuming fresh and hygienic food, avoiding the storage of cooked and raw food together and maintaining strict personal hygiene.
Pune has been the hardest hit in the state, with all earlier seven deaths coming from the same district.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome is a rare autoimmune disorder in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nervous system, leading to muscle weakness and, in severe cases, paralysis. Although the exact cause remains unknown, it often follows a bacterial or viral infection.