A dangerous disease, Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), is spreading rapidly in the Indian city of Pune, as a result of which hundreds of people have been affected.
This disease attacks the human nervous system and can paralyze the body. Last month, a school teacher in Pune noticed that his six-year-old son was not able to hold a pencil properly.
At first, he thought that the child might be angry, but the reality was much more serious. Soon the child was completely unable to move his hands and feet and ended up in the intensive care unit.
According to health experts, the main cause of the spread of this disease is the bacteria called ‘Campylobacter jejuni’, which enters the body through contaminated water and undercooked chicken meat.
This bacteria damages the human immune system so much that it attacks its nerve cells, due to which the body gradually starts to paralyze.
160 cases have been reported in India since January. 5 deaths have occurred, 48 people are still being treated in the intensive care unit and 21 patients are on ventilators.
Symptoms of the disease include numbness or tingling in the hands and feet, muscle weakness, inability to move the body, and difficulty breathing.
Symptoms appear in the early stages of the disease and can intensify within two to four weeks.
Global spread of GBS
This disease is not limited to India, but cases have also been reported in various countries of the world.
In 2023, more than 200 people were affected in Peru, and 4 deaths occurred, after which the government had to declare a health emergency.
In 2015, GBS cases were also reported in Brazil, most of which involved people infected with the Zika virus.
The worrying thing is that there is no definitive cure for this disease yet. However, doctors try to reduce its effects through plasma exchange and immunoglobulin therapy.
To prevent GBS, you must take precautions drink water by boiling, avoid uncooked or contaminated meat, take special care of cleanliness, adopt the habit of washing hands, and prefer fresh and clean food.
The World Health Organization is also working with the central and state governments to prevent the spread of this deadly disease.
Indian authorities have inspected 60,000 homes in Pune and collected water samples from 160 locations to prevent the spread of the disease.
Since there is no complete cure for GBS, it is very important to follow precautionary measures to avoid this disease.
The government has also asked people to boil water, eat fresh food, and “avoid eating stale and undercooked chicken and goat meat.†Only then can this danger be avoided by taking special care of cleanliness.
