Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) Outbreak in Madhya Pradesh
Authorities have taken action following the deaths of two children and detection of 18 Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) cases in Madhya Pradesh's Neemuch district.
Incident Details
- Two children died from GBS in Neemuch's Manasa area.
- Currently, 9 confirmed and 9 suspected cases are under treatment in various hospitals.
Government Response
- A special ward has been established at the Civil Hospital for new patients, and existing patients are referred to bigger hospitals.
- Financial aid is provided to some patients through the Red Cross Society.
Preventive Measures
- Two rounds of door-to-door screenings have been conducted by 15 teams including Health Department officials, ASHA, and Anganwadi workers.
- Around 150 people with cold and cough are being monitored for symptoms.
Inspection and Instructions
- Deputy Chief Minister inspected the readiness to handle the outbreak and instructed ensuring medication availability.
- Specialists from Neemuch Medical College are managing the dedicated ward, with potential referrals to Indore or Jaipur if necessary.
- The state government covers treatment expenses for all patients.
Testing and Sanitation Efforts
- Initial water samples from a purification plant have not shown contamination.
- Patient samples are sent to institutes in Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Pune for further testing.
- 40 water samples were collected from various locations for testing.
- The local municipal body initiated a sanitation drive and distributed chlorine tablets.
Future Plans
- A National Joint Outbreak Response Team is scheduled to visit from Delhi to trace contamination sources.
