Two more GBS deaths in Maharashtra, India toll at 21

PUNE/ NAGPUR: India's death toll from Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) in the current outbreak rose to 21 as two more fatalities - one each in Pune and Nagpur - were reported on Monday.

With this, Maharashtra's death toll has risen to 17. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal accounted for a death each.

Maharashtra health department on Monday listed the death of a 34-year-old resident of Wagholi in Pune at Sassoon General Hospital on Saturday evening as a GBS fatality. With this, nine people have died in Pune since the outbreak of the rare neurological disease in the city on Jan 5.

The patient at Sassoon was referred from a private unit on Feb 3, hospital dean Dr Eknath Pawar said in a statement.

An official said he was brought to the hospital after he experienced a tingling sensation in the limbs followed by loss of strength in both legs, which progressed to the upper limbs within six hours. "This loss of power in all limbs progressed rapidly over the next three days and by Feb 8, he had lost strength in the neck, respiratory and facial muscles. He had trouble swallowing too," the official said, adding that the patient never regained this strength again.

One more GBS death was confirmed in Nagpur, taking the total count in the city to two. The victim, an 8-year-old boy, was admitted to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) Nagpur on Jan 16 and he succumbed to the illness on Feb 10.

Meanwhile, Union junior minister for AYUSH, Prataprao Jadhav, Monday hinted at the possibility of travel restrictions in affected areas. "If the disease is spreading from one region to another, imposing travel restrictions may become necessary. " Jadhav told reporters in Buldhana.

(Inputs from Dhananjay Sable)