Mumbai Battles Guillain-Barré Syndrome Death Toll Rises to 8
A 53-year-old worker from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has succumbed to Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) at Nair Hospital, highlighting the ongoing health concerns in the city. The worker, identified as Subhash Dete, was admitted on January 23, 2025, following severe weakness in his legs. He passed away on February 10 after being shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) due to respiratory distress.
With his death, the total number of fatalities in the state due to GBS has now reached eight. Dete, a ward boy at the BMC-run V N Desai Hospital in Santacruz, was reported to have no previous symptoms like fever or diarrhoea, though he did suffer from high blood pressure. Notably, he had travelled to Pune shortly before his hospitalization. The hospital authorities confirmed that he was diagnosed with GBS, an autoimmune disease that affects the nervous system and can cause paralysis. This is not an isolated incident, as the city has witnessed at least three confirmed cases of GBS. A 16-year-old girl from Palghar has also been admitted to Nair Hospital and is currently stable. Earlier, a 64-year-old woman was diagnosed with GBS and is receiving treatment at Seven Hills Hospital in Bandra, where her condition is reportedly improving.
Despite the rising number of GBS cases, health officials are keen to quell panic. Dr Daksha Shah, Executive Health Officer of BMC, reassured the public, stating that the city is not witnessing an outbreak. “This is not a surge in cases. GBS is not a new disease, and the percentage of people affected is very low,” Dr Shah emphasized. She noted that the disease primarily affects those with co-morbidities, with the virus often following a bacterial or viral infection. Authorities are urging residents to be alert for symptoms such as sudden weakness or paralysis in the limbs, fever, or prolonged diarrhoea. Dr Shah assured that Mumbai’s municipal hospitals and medical colleges are equipped to treat GBS patients, with all necessary medical resources available for prompt intervention.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra’s Pune district continues to report the highest number of cases, with 192 suspected cases and 172 confirmed cases of GBS as of February 11. The state has reported seven deaths due to the syndrome. Although GBS cases are not uncommon, this recent uptick in cases has drawn significant attention. Public health experts stress that while the disease remains rare, early detection and treatment are critical to preventing severe complications.