GBS outbreak: Mumbai reports first death

A 53-year-old man, a resident of Wadala, working as a ward attendant at the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation's VN Desai Hospital, died of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) at Nair Hospital.

This is the first death reported in Mumbai due to GBS.

He was admitted to Nair Hospital on 23 January due to a fever. After various tests, including fluid in his brain, it was found that he was infected with GBS. As his condition was critical, he was being treated in the intensive care unit of Nair Hospital.

However, he died late on Monday night, 10 February, said Nair Hospital dean Shailesh Mohite.

According to the report submitted by the Nair Hospital's department of community medicine to the dean, the cause of death is 'septic shock with sepsis with lower respiratory tract infection with Guillain-Barre Syndrome'.

A tracheostomy was conducted on the patient, the report said, adding that he was administered intravenous immunoglobulin for five days, his blood plasma was exchanged and antibiotics were given for the lower respiratory tract infection.

Meanwhile, a 16-year-old girl has also been admitted to Nair Hospital due to GBS symptoms. However, her condition is fine and she is undergoing treatment. This girl came from Palghar district for treatment and is studying in class 10.

As per the state public health department, 197 suspected GBS patients were detected till 11 February. Of these, 172 went on to be diagnosed with GBS.

Till 11 February, seven deaths had occurred — including four confirmed as caused by GBS-related issues and three deaths suspected of being GBS cases.

Of the 197 patients identified, 40 are from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) area, 92 from newly added villages in the PMC area, 29 from the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation area, 28 from Pune Rural and 8 from other districts.

Maharashtra's public health minister Prakash Abitkar has appealed to citizens not to panic and to take adequate care, including drinking boiled water and eating fresh food.