The outbreak of a rare neurological disorder called Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in people over 60 in Pune has raised concerns. According to the Indian Express and The Times of India, experts from the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV) have reportedly identified norovirus and Campylobacter bacteria in some samples taken from affected individuals.

While norovirus causes acute gastroenteritis, Campylobacter jejuni bacteria are a common cause of diarrheal illness. Over the past few weeks, cases of norovirus have increased in the West, causing vomiting and diarrhea associated with gastroenteritis, inflammation of the stomach and intestines.

In India, 70–85% of norovirus-associated diarrhea in children is caused by group II (GII) noroviruses. It is usually a contagious stomach and intestinal virus that spreads through contaminated food, water, or directly from person to person.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Campylobacter jejuni bacteria cause diarrhea (often bloody), stomach pain, fever, headache, nausea and vomiting.

In light of several cases of GBS being reported, the Neurological Society of Pune in a public warning appealed to the people not to panic and assured them that the neurological disorder is a “treatable condition”.

Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare neurological disorder in which a person’s immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s peripheral nervous system – the network of nerves that transmit signals from the brain to the spinal cord and then to the rest of the body.

While the exact cause of the illness is unknown, doctors say it is often preceded by a viral or bacterial infection, most commonly a respiratory illness or gastrointestinal infection. Its symptoms include weakness, fatigue, and stabbing pain in the legs, hands, arms, legs and face. Sometimes there is difficulty in breathing.

Some patients with GBS may experience difficulty climbing stairs, weakness in the face and body, as well as vision problems, difficulty swallowing, speaking, or chewing.

Dr Anshu Rohatgi, vice-chairman of neurology at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said GBS can cause muscle weakness, numbness and even paralysis. “It can also cause problems with breathing muscles and swallowing. It is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention and treatment,” Dr Rohatgi said.

The expert said that sometimes, vaccines and surgical procedures can also trigger GBS.

Treatment includes the use of intravenous immunoglobulin or plasma exchange. Some patients may require ventilatory support.

There is currently no cure for GBS. Although many patients respond to treatment, recovery may take from a few weeks to years.