Mexico reports four deaths from an outbreak and possible Guillain Barré syndrome

At least four people died in Tlaxcala, a state in central Mexico, due to an outbreak of the bacteria ‘campylobacter jejuni’, which is associated with Guillain Barré syndrome (GBS), as reported this Friday by the Ministry of Health (SSa) of the Government. Mexican.

The agency has registered 81 cases of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) so far this year in 30 municipalities of Tlaxcala, of which, 42 cases “have shown positive isolation to the bacteria ‘campylobacter jejuni'” and 34 have been classified as SGB.

“Four deaths have been registered that are being ruled by the group of experts,” the SSa said in a statement.

The Secretariat detailed that since March 11 it has implemented surveillance actions and identification of the source of infection and the risk factors involved in the outbreak, such as contaminated water, poor food handling, low chlorination of drinking water systems and poor hand washing.

The agency recalled that acute flaccid paralysis is characterized by the sudden loss of muscle strength in the extremities, decreased muscle tone and absence of reflexes.

“This condition can result in total inability to perform voluntary movements and even affect breathing and swallowing, with serious consequences that can lead to death,” he warned.

The SSa cited that, in the last five years, 899 cases of AFP were reported nationwide in 2019, 532 in 2020, 518 in 2021, 628 in 2022 and 617 in 2023.

Given this scenario, the Health Secretariat urged people to seek medical attention for symptoms such as sudden loss of muscle strength in extremities, decreased muscle tone, reduction or absence of reflexes, inability to perform voluntary movements, and difficulty breathing or ingesting water and meal.

The outbreak in Mexico occurs after, in February, Guatemala reported four deaths and 67 cases of an unknown acute neurological disease associated with Guillain Barré syndrome.