Mumbai: In the midst of a rare outbreak of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) in neighbouring Pune, a 64-year-old woman from an Andheri chawl was admitted to BMC-run SevenHills Hospital with symptoms of the debilitating neurological disorder. BMC officials made it clear that neither the patient nor her “su-spected GBS” condition has any connection with Pune.
“This is an isolated case of GBS, which is an autoimmune condition relating to an individual’s immune system. It is not contagious,” said BMC executive health officer Dr Daksha Shah.
City doctors said GBS cases are seen throughout the year in Mumbai, although cases are known to peak in the monsoon months between June and Aug. Consider state-run JJ Hospital in Byculla, which treated 49 and 64 cases in 2024 and 2023, respectively.
The sudden discussion on GBS follows an unusual surge in cases in Pune. According to state health officials, there have been six deaths, and 180 suspected patients detected so far. An official said 58 Pune patients are in the ICU, while 22 are on ventilator support.
Dr Shah reiterated that the latest Mumbai case is not connected to Pune. “Our staff is carrying out surveillance in the locality and have not noted any cluster of GBS like seen in Pune,” she added.
JJ Hospital dean Dr Pallavi Saple said they have a GBS patient — a 35-year-old from Dhule — admitted since late Jan. “As we are a referral centre that offers free treatment for GBS, we get many patients throughout the year,” she said, adding that there is no surge in admissions at the moment.
Regarding the Andheri patient, who is a resident of Sonar Chawl near Marol, BMC officials said she developed fever and diarrhoea 15 days ago. GBS is often noted after a viral or bacterial infection; while some patients become bedridden within 24 hours, others develop weakness over weeks. The woman experienced ascending paralysis — a telltale sign of GBS — within days of the diarrhoeal infection. BMC sources said she was admitted to SevenHills Hospital on Feb 5 as she had trouble walking.
GBS patients are either given intravenous immunoglobulin — a treatment that involves administering a concentrated collection of antibodies through a vein — or plasma exchange in which harmful antibodies and other factors from the blood are removed. It is learnt that the SevenHills patient has been started on plasma exchange or plasmapheresis and is likely to undergo four more cycles. A civic doctor said GBS has various triggers. “It is not always a bacterium from contaminated water. It could be a virus, vaccine, or some other autoimmune or allergic condition that the patient has,” said the doctor, adding that it’s not always possible to pinpoint the cause.
Mumbai: In the midst of a rare outbreak of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) in neighbouring Pune, a 64-year-old woman from an Andheri chawl was admitted to BMC-run SevenHills Hospital with symptoms of the debilitating neurological disorder. BMC officials made it clear that neither the patient nor her “su-spected GBS” condition has any connection with Pune.
“This is an isolated case of GBS, which is an autoimmune condition relating to an individual’s immune system. It is not contagious,” said BMC executive health officer Dr Daksha Shah.
City doctors said GBS cases are seen throughout the year in Mumbai, although cases are known to peak in the monsoon months between June and Aug. Consider state-run JJ Hospital in Byculla, which treated 49 and 64 cases in 2024 and 2023, respectively.
The sudden discussion on GBS follows an unusual surge in cases in Pune. According to state health officials, there have been six deaths, and 180 suspected patients detected so far. An official said 58 Pune patients are in the ICU, while 22 are on ventilator support.
Dr Shah reiterated that the latest Mumbai case is not connected to Pune. “Our staff is carrying out surveillance in the locality and have not noted any cluster of GBS like seen in Pune,” she added.
JJ Hospital dean Dr Pallavi Saple said they have a GBS patient — a 35-year-old from Dhule — admitted since late Jan. “As we are a referral centre that offers free treatment for GBS, we get many patients throughout the year,” she said, adding that there is no surge in admissions at the moment.
Regarding the Andheri patient, who is a resident of Sonar Chawl near Marol, BMC officials said she developed fever and diarrhoea 15 days ago. GBS is often noted after a viral or bacterial infection; while some patients become bedridden within 24 hours, others develop weakness over weeks. The woman experienced ascending paralysis — a telltale sign of GBS — within days of the diarrhoeal infection. BMC sources said she was admitted to SevenHills Hospital on Feb 5 as she had trouble walking.
GBS patients are either given intravenous immunoglobulin — a treatment that involves administering a concentrated collection of antibodies through a vein — or plasma exchange in which harmful antibodies and other factors from the blood are removed. It is learnt that the SevenHills patient has been started on plasma exchange or plasmapheresis and is likely to undergo four more cycles. A civic doctor said GBS has various triggers. “It is not always a bacterium from contaminated water. It could be a virus, vaccine, or some other autoimmune or allergic condition that the patient has,” said the doctor, adding that it’s not always possible to pinpoint the cause.