Synopsis
West Bengal has reported another death linked to Guillain-Barre Syndrome, raising the official toll to two fatalities since January. The latest victim, Khairul Sheikh, was a 22-year-old former medical student who fell ill after a job search in Bihar.Key Takeaways
- Guillain-Barre Syndrome leads to muscle weakness.
- Two fatalities reported in West Bengal since January.
- Khairul Sheikh, 22, was the latest victim.
- Health authorities confirm sporadic cases in the region.
- Over 100 cases reported in Maharashtra recently.
Kolkata, Feb 22 (NationPress) On Saturday, West Bengal confirmed another death believed to be due to Guillain-Barre Syndrome, marking the second fatality in the state since January.
The deceased has been identified as Khairul Sheikh, 22, who lived in the Suti area of Murshidabad district. He was a former para-medical student at the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata, which gained notoriety last August due to the horrific rape and murder of a female junior doctor within its premises.
Sheikh had recently traveled to Purnea, Bihar, in pursuit of a job at a private hospital. After falling ill there, he returned home to Suti.
As his health worsened, showing signs of paralysis in the lower part of his body, he was transferred to Kolkata earlier this month and admitted to R.G. Kar.
Last month, the West Bengal Health Department released a statement indicating that Guillain-Barre Syndrome, characterized by rapid muscle weakness due to the immune system attacking the peripheral nervous system, is not a new occurrence in the state or country, with sporadic cases reported in the past.
The first death linked to the syndrome was a 10-year-old student from Jagatdal, who passed away on January 28. However, there was no official confirmation from the state Health Department or the hospital authorities regarding this claim.
In addition, a recent report surfaced about a 17-year-old from Amdanga, also believed to have died from Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Hospital authorities stated that this death resulted from septic shock and myocarditis, implying that the syndrome might have been an underlying cause.
Recently, over 100 cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome were reported in Maharashtra, primarily from Pune. Of the 110 reported cases in Maharashtra, 88 were from Pune, 15 from Pimpri, and the remaining seven from various districts. Among the total cases, 73 were men and the rest women.
