VIJAYAWADA: Taking stock of the Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) cases in the State, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday 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.
Briefing the media after the review meeting, Health Minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav reassured the public, stating that 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.
Emphasising that GBS is not a new condition, he 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.
The Health Minister clarified that GBS is caused when the immune system attacks the peripheral nerves, resulting in muscle weakness and paralytic effects on the lower limbs. He noted that only one or two people out of every one lakh are affected by GBS.
Further, he advised the public to seek treatment if they notice any symptoms. “In fact, 85% of patients recover without the need for any treatment. Only around 15% of those affected require treatment with immunoglobulin injections,” he explained.
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Regarding the high cost of treatment, he said each immunoglobulin injection costs `20,000, with patients needing up to five injections per day for several days. However, he stressed that all major government hospitals are now equipped with these injections. On the higher number of GBS cases at Guntur GGH, Kumar explained that due to the hospital’s advanced neurology department, cases from other areas were being referred there.
Special CS (Health) MT Krishna Babu mentioned that a national-level alert was issued after 181 cases of GBS were reported in the Pune Municipal Corporation in a short period. He added that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is investigating the reasons behind the outbreak, with bio-pollution suspected as a potential cause. Regarding the availability of immunoglobulin injections, he stated that 1,200 injections are currently available in hospitals across the State, with an additional 6,000 to be procured.
Dr NV Sundaracharhi, Principal of Guntur Medical College, explained that GBS is one of the oldest known diseases. He stated that various infections could trigger it, with a common cold being one of the early symptoms.