As Maharashtra continues to fight the rising cases of Guillain–Barré Syndrome (GBS), other states have also started ramping up surveillance to prevent the GBS outbreak.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed the Health Department to investigate the reasons behind the occurrence and spread of the rare autoimmune condition and take necessary steps to reduce the number of cases.
After the review meeting, Health Minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav reassured the public, stating there is no need for panic as the situation is under control. Following the death of two people due to GBS, the Health Department has been put on high alert. The situation is being closely monitored, and immunoglobulin injections have been made available. An order has also been placed for additional supplies, he added.
The Minister also highlighted that 301 cases had been reported in 10 of the 17 Government General Hospitals in 2024. Of these, 115 cases were reported in Guntur GGH, 45 each in Kakinada and Vijayawada GGHs, 33 in Kurnool, 28 in Visakhapatnam, and 21 in Nellore. Stating that 43 cases had been reported in January this year, he explained that 17 people are currently undergoing treatment.
He advised the public to seek treatment if they notice any symptoms. “85% of patients recover without the need for any treatment. Only around 15% of those affected require treatment with immunoglobulin injections,” he explained as quoted by News Indian Express.
Meanwhile, in Karnataka, the state health department is ramping up (GBS) disease surveillance and monitoring efforts to prevent a Guillain-Barre Syndrome outbreak in Karnataka. This comes in light of an Acute Diarrheal Disease (ADD) outbreak in two taluks in Uttara Kannada district. At least 61 pilgrims in these two taluks, who recently returned from Pandharpur, Maharashtra, suffered from acute diarrhea and vomiting after consuming contaminated water from an overhead tank in a community hall, the Deccan Herald reported.
According to the report, Health and Family Welfare Department Principal Secretary Harsh Gupta has instructed all district health officers (DHOs) and district disease surveillance officers (DSOs) to increase the surveillance of ADD and monitor each reported case for two to four weeks for any signs of the GBS.
Reportedly, Karnataka’s health department held several meetings to identify preventive measures and announced that the Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy used as treatment would be made free for patients.