Peru has been swept by a mysterious wave of a paralysis-causing disease, prompting officials to declare a national health emergency.
Since the beginning of this year, there have been 231 cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), more than half of which occurred in a short five-week period from early June to mid-July.
The majority of patients suffered from a progressive form of paralysis that begins in the feet and legs and progresses slowly to the trunk and upper extremities.
Patient samples taken by Peruvian health officials during the five-week peak found a bacteria commonly found in contaminated food and water, Campylobacter jejuni, also believed to be responsible for a similar GBS outbreak in Peru four years ago.
While GBS can be devastating, it is rarely fatal and is not transmitted between people in the same way as a viral flu or bacteria, though the government quickly issued a national emergency and mobilized medical resources to go to Peru’s 25 different regions. .
The current rate of new GBS cases is expected to exceed the monthly average, which is about 20 cases
Fifty-six percent of cases (130 of them) were reported between epidemiological weeks 23 (June 10, 2023) and 28 (July 15, 2023)
Neither the Peruvian government nor the World Health Organization or the Pan American Health Organization have imposed travel restrictions because of the GBS outbreak, though it could hurt the country’s tourism industry, which ranks as the fourth most popular South American destination more than 3 million tourists every year.
US tourism to Peru, in particular, is booming, with about 177,000 arriving from the US in 2021. Americans represent about 40 percent of tourists visiting the country, known for its rich Inca heritage and lush jungles.
In 2019, prior to the turmoil that was the Covid pandemic, an estimated 641,000 Americans visited Peru.
Forty-four of the 130 cases reported between June 10 and July 15 were found to be GBS, with the rest “suspected” as GBS. There have also been four deaths linked to GBS this year.
Ninety-four of those patients experienced paralysis, a frightening symptom that begins in the lower extremities and moves steadily up the body. Many also experienced lingering symptoms such as sensory disturbances and muscle coordination problems even after the paralysis resolved.
The feelings of peak weakness occur between two to four weeks after symptoms are first observed and the paralysis will resolve within a few weeks to a few months.
In some cases, however, the total recovery time may take longer than several months or even a year.
People aged 30 and over were most commonly affected by the neurological disorder, and most of the patients were male.
Since the beginning of the year, the highest number of GBS cases was recorded in seven of the country’s regions: Lima and Callao (75 cases), La Libertad (39), Piura (21), Lambayeque (20), Cajamarca (17 ), Junín (12) and Cusco (10)
Historical data collected by the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that the average monthly number of recorded GBS cases was less than 20 suspected cases per month nationwide.
The trend paled in comparison to what officials are seeing this year, and particularly over that five-week period when an average of 3.7 cases were reported each day.
The WHO said: ‘To date, the possible cause of the unexpected GBS incidence is still under investigation.
“WHO advises Member States to continuously monitor the incidence and trends of neurological disorders, particularly GBS… Close observation and monitoring of these disorders will help countries respond effectively to any changes and ensure that appropriate action is taken to address potential public health concerns.”
Health officials took samples from a number of patients who were confirmed to have GBS within the five-week high case period and found that of the 22 samples taken, 14 were positive for the bacteria Campylobacter jejuni – which causes gastroenteritis and one of the most common risk is factors for GBS.
GBS is an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks its own peripheral nervous system, affecting nerve signals and muscle function.
This leads to weakness and paralysis that spreads from the lower parts of the body to the upper parts.
It is usually preceded by a viral or bacterial infection, such as gastroenteritis. In fact, 23 percent of cases started with a gastrointestinal infection, while just over 24 percent started with a respiratory infection.
Most people with GBS will recover. The syndrome is fatal in about three percent of cases.