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What started in mid January with the index case of a 50-year-old woman who was admitted to the Poona Hospital and Medical Research Centre with a tingling in her lower limbs that seemed to progress to paralysis, has now become the biggest health talking point in the country. In just two weeks, a hitherto relatively obscure disease has entered common speak: Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). Over a 100 suspected GBS cases have been notched up so far in Pune, and one death, suspected to be GBS-related has already occurred.
What is GBS? It is a relatively rare, autoimmune disorder that affects the neurological system, where the peripheral nervous system is affected primarily — leading to muscle weakness and eventually paralysis. It can be caused by a viral or bacterial infection, and in this case, the index patient tested positive for Campylobacter jejuni, a bacteria that spreads through contaminated water and food. Doctors also found a history of gastroenteritis in the community she hailed from — vomiting, diarrhoea and, nausea. Here is our explainer on GBS.
With Maharashtra recording the first suspected death due to Guillain-Barré Syndrome, Bindu Shajan Perappadan reported that a Union Health Ministry team would assess Guillain-Barré outbreak in Pune. Snehal Mutha reporting from Maharashtra wrote about what is happening at the field level — including efforts by the local governments to test water samples and the measures taken at hospitals to treat patients with GBS.
While we are at outbreaks, let’s also stop by at the Jammu and Kashmir Rajouri deaths: Badhal village declared as containment zone; houses of affected families sealed. In light of the the hitherto unexplained deaths of 17 people in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district, Badhal village has been declared as a containment zone as of Wednesday (January 22, 2025). Seventeen persons, including 13 children, belonging to three related families have died under what local health authorities called ‘mysterious circumstances’, between December 7 and January 19. The houses of affected families will be sealed now. Teams are still investigating the cause of the deaths.
The country paid homage to two key personalities in the health care sector, the first being India’s preeminent cardiac surgeon K.M. Cherian, the sculptor of many firsts, who died on Saturday (January 25, 2025). He was a pioneering cardiac surgeon in the country, operating out of Chennai, he performed India’s first cardiac bypass surgery, the second heart transplant, the first heart and lung transplant, and was also an expert paediatric cardiologist. Another loss came with the passing of P. Krishnakumar, Director, Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS), also on Saturday. He was instrumental in taking mental health care to the masses, and making it affordable.
Last week, we spoke of the disastrous consequences of American President Trump’s decision to begin the process of withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO). Here is The Hindu’s edit on the subject: WHO is right. Here are a few reports to follow up:
U.S. should reconsider its decision on withdrawing, says WHO,
U.S. WHO exit jeopardizes Africa, says health body and
WHO chief to cut costs, reset priorities after US exit, document shows.
We have a budget coming up soon, and here is a preview into what the wishlist from the sector for this year: Health experts hope for less GST on medical goods, better funding for R&D, inclusion in PMJAY from age 60
In a shocking reveal, an Illegal kidney transplant racket was busted in Saroor Nagar, Telangana Health Minister orders strict action, Siddharth Kumar Singh reported. A vast network of doctors, agents and donors were employed in this racket, it came to be known, subsequently. With investigators on the tail of this, it is likely that the whole rotten network will be exposed soon. Read our extensive coverage on this:
Kidney transplant racket: 9 arrested
Marri Ramu writes: Police probing the role of doctors with China, Ukraine medical degrees in kidney racket
Kidney transplant racket in Hyderabad: Recipients paid ₹50 lakh, donors received ₹4 lakh.
While Swathi Krishna Njarekkattuvalappil and Parth Sharma map out India’s winding road to ‘#EndTB’, calling for attention to the peculiar circumstances of geography, R. Prasad reports on a new modelling study that suggests that Household nutritional support can avert 0.36 million TB deaths. Earlier the RATIONS Trial proved that providing targeted nutrition to TB patients and their household contacts could reduce the number of new cases and deaths. Rahul Karmakar reports on a study that found that Assam tea workers are prone to post-TB fungal disease.
Time to give some attention to mental health. I wrote on a survey that found a link between smartphone use and mental health of adolescents, averring that with the earlier access to mobile phones, the deterioration was greater, among 10,000 odd adolescents surveyed in the U.S. and India. The researchers propose that schools and parents revisit the use of smart devices in education. Afshan Yasmeen also reported last week that Over 90% of corporate employees aged below the age of 25 experience anxiety, based on a study. Revealing an increase in the uptake of counselling services among corporate employees compared to 2023, the report found that mental health concerns, such as anxiety, depression and stress, comprised 15% of the total sessions in 2024.
As we continue to track climate change and its impact on health of humans, we had this report from Kochi last week: Zoonotic diseases, climate change, dietary risks posing threat to human health, says Soumya Swaminathan. Purnima Sah also wrote during the week on the link between rising dengue cases and rising temperatures; researchers build early warning system. Researchers have confirmed that if health data is shared, it would be possible to prepare customised early warning systems for climate sensitive diseases like dengue, malaria, and chikungunya for each city or district in India.
After simply years merely ruing high drowning figures in India, finally, there seems to be some action. Zubeda Hamid asks How many people in India use lifejackets? and goes on to report on a new study among fishers, boat operators & tourists in T.N. and Kerala that aims to find out just how many do. Interestingly, C. Maya reports on efforts launched separately in Kerala to bring down drowning deaths. She writes about why Kerala has begun survival swimming training for schoolchildren.
In our tail piece for the week, Sayantan Datta tells us what we have always suspected: that the fat in our bodies is having its own conversation with the brain: In breakthrough, scientists find pressure sensor in fat tissue. The fat tissues in our bodies need to communicate with the brain to adjust the body’s metabolism. Typically, scientists study how the brain communicates with adipose tissue through the sympathetic nervous system and how the adipose tissue replies through circulating chemical signals. But the new study, which is awaiting peer-review, focused on a different link between the brain and adipose tissue: sensory afferents. Do click on the link above to read further.
We have a big list of explainers for this week, right from what chrononutrition is to how to handle thyroid disorders. Do hit on the links below:
Arkatapa Basu and Priyali Prakash do a fact check on IIT Madras director V. Kamakoti’s comments on cow urine
Serena Josephine M. tells us what chrononutrition is: It’s not just what you eat: when you eat also matters
We examine if gene editing help with genetic eye conditions? A new study explores the possibility
Dr. Anbarasu Mohanraj explains The hidden and apparent dangers of spending 70-90 hours every week at work
Dr. Jeevagan M. on the link between Parkinsonism and prostate enlargement: sometimes the twain shall meet
Dr. Monisha Madhumita writes on The hidden dangers of Rhodamine B, a colouring agent deeply problematic when used in cosmetics and food.
How will the suspension of imported refurbished medical devices impact the healthcare sector?
How has India revised obesity parameters?
If you have a few moments to spare, also read:
Shilpa Elizabeth writes: Bengaluru start-up hopes to make immunotherapy for cancer more affordable, off-the-shelf
D. Balasubramanian on: How to achieve universal health coverage across India
Keep a watch on thyroid disorders, do regular check-ups: experts say, as part of The Hindu – Naruvi Hospitals webinar series – Healthy India, Happy India.
In its first evaluation, T.N.’s ‘Idhayam Kappom’ scheme finds loading dose was effective in improving survival rates of patients.
Wuhan keen to shake off pandemic label, five years on
EU plans ban on ‘forever chemicals’ in consumer products
The Hindu’s edit On Kerala’s demographic transition
Economic burden of rising breast cancer cases in India will be $19.55 billion per year by 2030: study
People with spinal muscular atrophy demand urgent action from the Centre to reduce medicine costs
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Published – January 28, 2025 03:37 pm IST