Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is a neurological disorder occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own nerve cells, resulting in muscle weakness along with paralysis and leads to respiratory failure. GBS symptoms typically begin with tingling sensations in the foot and hand before progressing to muscle weakness later impairing the joint movement. The severity of the symptoms increases during a period of 2 to 4 weeks and intensive treatment is necessary for certain patients during this time.
Patient survival from GBS ranges between 3% and 13% based on accessibility of the medical facilities and intensity levels of the disease. Immuno-therapy through intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and plasma exchange serves as treatment to manage symptoms including the elimination of potential complications. As GBS patients does not have a definitive treatment for recovery their healing process may stretch over months and years.
During a typical homework session, a six-year-old Pune boy experienced the symptoms that led to severe medical condition. His mother dismissed his pencil-handling difficulties as frustration symptoms instead of detecting that he presented with GBS symptoms initially. The boy developed worsening symptoms in less than a week before medical staff admitted him to the ICU where he lost control of his body movement. These symptoms continued to evolve which resulted in complete swallowing disability, loss of speech, and independent breathing ability and now he is on ventilator support.
The 164 GBS cases were reported in Pune starting from early January. Health authorities confirmed five fatalities where 48 patients in intensive care unit treatment and 21 patients are on ventilation. Health officials documented that 38 patients who received care have returned their homes after the treatment.
Health authorities identified Campylobacter jejuni as the primary cause of the Pune outbreak because it represents a common bacterial pathogen causing foodborne infections. They identified the link between Campylobacter and GBS during the 1990s when researchers found contaminated water sources containing chicken or duck droppings in rural China caused breakthrough outbreaks. Researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in Bangalore demonstrate that past infections stand as an important contributor to GBS development. A sample of 150 patients during 2014 to 2019 indicated that 79% showed past infections and Campylobacter was identified in one-third of these patients. Research showed co-occurring pathogens in 65% of patient samples demonstrating complex multidimensional pathogenic interactions.
The association between Campylobacter infections and GBS outbreaks occurs worldwide including India. The GBS outbreak in Peru during 2023 led to more than 200 suspected cases and four deaths among patients resulting in the declaration of a national health emergency. Research findings showed Campylobacter caused infections in two-thirds of detected cases.
The improved sanitary conditions of developed nations lead to GBS occurrences from respiratory infections instead of foods infected with bacteria. The Zika virus caused an outbreak of GBS when it appeared in Brazil in 2015. One COVID-19 vaccine developed in the United Kingdom contains rare instances of developing GBS as a side effect.
Neurology expert Professor Hugh Willison at the University of Glasgow says that Campylobacter naturally exists in the environment and their strains pose to the risk in inducing GBS symptoms. These strains produce a sugar-based outer layer duplicates the human nerve cells. When the immune system attacks against the bacteria, immune response mistakenly targets nervous tissue and thereby causes GBS.
GBS recognition remains the primary step for physicians, but this detection might lead to confusion with other neurological conditions and viral infections. The diagnostic challenges appear more prominent in rural locations since these regions often lack sufficient medical facilities.
World health organisation (WHO) supports the health department in Pune for its ongoing assistance in disease management and treatment operations. The authorities demonstrate that this is due to water contamination or infected poultry. Further the need for continuity of public health strategies required to strengthen the prevention of this panic.
References:
- World Health Organization. WHO assists response to Guillain-Barré Syndrome in Pune. Published January 31, 2025. Accessed Febrauary 6, 2025. https://www.who.int/india/news/feature-stories/detail/who-assists-response-to-guillain-barr–syndrome-in-pune
- Biswas S. Guillain-Barre syndrome: India faces outbreak of creeping paralysis. BBC News. Published 2025. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2038ggnpx7o
