GBS is not contagious according to BMC’s Dr Daksha Shah, who assures that Mumbai has no outbreak

MUMBAI: BMC executive health officer Dr Daksha Shah said there is no cause for worry in Mumbai as Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is not a contagious disease.
When TOI contacted her after a civic hospital employee with a connection with Pune succumbed to complications due to GBS, she said, “It cannot spread from one person to another. The Pune outbreak is rare and confined to one geographic location.
” She said GBS patients are routinely admitted to hospitals, but all are isolated cases. “There is no hint of a GBS outbreak in Mumbai.”
Regarding the victim, Nair Hospital Dean Dr S Mohite said his GBS diagnosis was confirmed through a nerve induction test as well as an analysis of his cerebrospinal fluid. He was admitted to BMC-run Nair Hospital on Jan 23. He soon developed respiratory problems and was put on ventilator.
Meanwhile, the GBS outbreak has acquired political overtones.
“It has been a month since the first GBS patient was found in the state, and eight deaths have been reported due to this disease in this one month. Patients of this disease have now started being found in Mumbai as well, but the state govt does not seem to be taking this disease very seriously,” said Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Nana Patole.
Over 50 patients are still in the ICU.
“Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis gave instructions to make special arrangements in govt hospitals for GBS patients, but what happened next? Has the govt made any special measures for this? It is understood that the cost of one injection to be given to a GBS patient is Rs 20,000. An injection of this price is not affordable for the common man. Has the state govt made any provision for it? Just giving instructions will not do anything; concrete steps will have to be taken,” asked Patole.