Peru is experiencing a surge in Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) cases, prompting the country to declare a 90-day health emergency. This resurgence of GBS, a serious autoimmune disorder, has raised concerns over its potential connection with Covid-19. It’s worth noting that in 2019, Peru also had a significant outbreak of GBS, with 683 suspected or confirmed cases reported during a specific period.
About Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)
Guillain-Barre Syndrome is a severe autoimmune disorder that impacts the peripheral nervous system. GBS initially manifests as weakness, tingling, and numbness in the limbs and could escalate into paralysis which lasts between 6-12 months or longer. This syndrome affects the nerves responsible for muscle movement as well as pain, temperature, and touch sensations. Primarily affecting adults and males, GBS can occur in individuals of any age.
Causes of Guillain-Barre Syndrome
The exact cause of Guillain-Barre Syndrome remains unknown. However, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), it usually occurs following an infection, which could be either bacterial or viral. This causes the immune system to attack the body. In rare instances, vaccinations and surgeries could slightly increase the risk of developing GBS, but this probability remains very low. Studies indicate that infections such as influenza pose a higher GBS risk than vaccines like the flu vaccine.
Treating Guillain-Barre Syndrome
The treatment strategy for Guillain-Barre Syndrome includes procedures like plasmapheresis, which involves plasma removal and its replacement with other fluids.
Guillain-Barre Syndrome and Covid-19
There have been reports of GBS cases among children and adults with Covid-19. Additionally, there have been concerns about possible GBS cases following the administration of Covid-19 vaccines. Approximately 100 suspected GBS cases were identified among the 12.8 million people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine (a viral vector vaccine). There have been reports of GBS after administering Pfizer (an mRNA vaccine) and AstraZeneca (another viral vector vaccine) as well.
According to a WHO subcommittee, rare cases of GBS have been reported with adenovirus vector Covid-19 vaccines but not with mRNA vaccines. Nevertheless, recent studies indicate that despite these potential side effects, the benefits of Covid-19 vaccination outweigh the risks. The incidence rate of GBS post-Infection or vaccination with SARS-CoV-2 remains low.
Relevance to UPSC Civil Services Examination
In the context of vaccines manufactured to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic, the following statements were presented in 2022:
1. The Serum Institute of India produced a COVID-19 vaccine named Covishield using the mRNA platform.
2. Sputnik V vaccine is manufactured using a vector-based platform.
3. COVAXIN is an inactivated pathogen-based vaccine.
The correct answer was: 2 and 3 only.
This highlights the importance of keeping abreast of the latest developments in medical research and understanding the different types of vaccines available in response to the ongoing pandemic.