A 45-year-old woman and a 10-year-old boy have died of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a rare autoimmune neurological disorder, in Andhra Pradesh over the past 10 days, Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav confirmed on Monday.
The Minister stated that Kamalamma succumbed to the disease at Government General Hospital (GGH) in Guntur on Sunday, while the minor boy passed away at a private medical college in Srikakulam 10 days ago.
“There are 17 GBS cases now. This is a non-communicable disease with an incidence rate of up to two per one lakh population. This is not a sudden spurt of cases, this is normal. Two deaths have occurred due to GBS. Our government is alert and is providing the best possible facilitation. There is no need to panic as GBS is not a communicable disease,” Yadav said.
He attributed the heightened concern to a recent incident in Pune, which drew widespread attention to the condition.
According to the minister, a total of 267 cases have been reported in 2024, with 141 in the first half of the year and 126 in the second half. He pointed out that, on average, 25 cases are recorded each month, most of which can be managed with standard treatment. However, severe cases require immunoglobulin injections and intensive care unit (ICU) admission.
GBS occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nerves, resulting in muscle weakness, numbness, and tingling. While it is a non-communicable condition, early diagnosis and appropriate medical intervention are crucial in preventing severe complications.
With inputs from PTI
