Jharkhand on toes to counter GBS; All entering state to be screened

Ranchi: Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Friday directed the health department to take all necessary measures to prevent of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) spreading and reviewed the readiness of hospitals to treatment patients suffering from the disease during a review meeting at his residential office with officials from the Health Department.
The meeting was called by the chief minister after a five-year-old girl in Ranchi was diagnosed with GBS having travel history to Maharashtra where deaths have been reported. and deaths reported from the disease in Bengal and Maharashtra.
GBS is an illness often progresses rapidly, making the patient bedridden in a few days. It is associated with damage to nerves causing severe weakness of limbs, trunk, and face. It is often followed by a bacterial or viral infection (such as diarrhoea causing Campylobacter Jejuni bacteria or viral infections like dengue or chikungunya), that affected the nerves.
GBS is a very rare but potentially paralysing nerve disorder caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking the body’s own nerves. It is often triggered by gastrointestinal or respiratory infections.
He directed officials to immediately refer any detected cases to RIMS and to keep the transport system on high alert to ensure timely and quality medical care. He also instructed civil surgeons across all districts to closely monitor news, activities, and updates related to GBS to ensure timely preventive measures.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Irfan Ansari, he Additional Chief Secretary Avinash Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary of the Health Ajay Kumar Singh, RIMS Director Prof. (Dr.) Raj Kumar, National Health Mission (NHM) Campaign Director Abu Imran, and deputy commissioners and civil surgeons from all districts participated in the meeting virtually.
Senior officials of the health department briefed the CM about the symptoms, adverse effects, and preventive measures related to GBS.
Soren directed officials to ensure proper identification and treatment arrangements for GBS patients in hospitals.
He also instructed them to launch a widespread awareness campaign to educate the public about the disease. He emphasized that people must be made aware that GBS spreads through contaminated water and raw food consumption, and it is not contagious like COVID-19.
The CM also directed officials to dispel any misconceptions about the disease and to ensure that people do not panic unnecessarily. Awareness is the best way to prevent the illness.
Soren also directed officials to screen individuals arriving in Jharkhand from states or regions where GBS cases are higher.
The officials were instructed to setup free GBS testing centers in the city to facilitate early detection and treatment.
All hospitals have been directed by the CM to be well-equipped with beds, medicines, medical oxygen, and other necessary facilities to handle GBS cases effectively.