MUMBAI: Marking the city's first reported fatality from the rare neurological disorder Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), a 53-year-old man has tragically passed away at the state-run Nair Hospital in Mumbai. The civic body has yet to confirm whether this death is linked to the outbreak in Pune, as most cases are concentrated in and around the surrounding areas.

The deceased, a resident of Wadala in central Mumbai, was employed as a ward attendant at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation-run VN Desai Hospital. His family noted that he had travelled to Pune for a day in January prior to falling ill with complaints of weakness in his legs.

The patient, admitted on January 23, was later shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and after various tests conducted on him including on the fluid in his brain, it was found that he was infected with GBS. Despite receiving appropriate treatment his condition turned critical and he was placed on a ventilator due to breathing difficulties, however, despite the medical teams he succumbed to the illness on February 11.

GBS is a rare neurological disorder where the body's immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system, often following an infection. Symptoms include muscle weakness, tingling sensations, and, in severe cases, paralysis. The exact cause of GBS is not fully understood, but it is often linked to an immune response triggered by an infection, such as the flu, or, in some cases, a bacterial infection like Campylobacter jejuni.

According to available information, this condition typically follows an infection, such as a respiratory or gastrointestinal viral infection, or sometimes after a vaccination, although the latter is very rare. In most cases, patients recover with proper treatment. However, in its most severe form, GBS can cause respiratory failure and, unfortunately, death if the muscles that control breathing become too weak.

According to the Maharashtra Health Department, this incident brings the total number of GBS-related deaths in Maharashtra to eight, with seven fatalities reported in Pune, along with 172 confirmed cases and 104 patients discharged so far.

The department continues to monitor and manage the outbreak closely and has issued advisories to the public. Individuals experiencing symptoms like muscle weakness and tingling sensations are urged to seek prompt medical attention and take steps to prevent further spread.