What is GBS, the rare paralytic disease in Gaza amid Israeli blockade?

Gaza has recently seen a surge in Guillain-Barre syndrome, which can cause full-body paralysis in extreme cases.

Paralytic diseases are spreading in Gaza as an Israeli blockade continues to prevent medicine and food from coming in.

Since June, 85 suspected cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) have been reported, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The WHO reported that there have been eight deaths associated with GBS in Gaza.

GBS is a condition where the body’s immune system attacks the myelin sheath, which protects the peripheral nerves.

This exposes the nerve fibre and causes nerve damage.

Peripheral nerves branch out from the brain and spinal cord to all parts of the body, such as the skin, muscles and organs.

GBS is a very rare condition, affecting about 100,000 people worldwide every year, according to the Cleveland Clinic’s website.

The exact cause of GBS is unknown, but it usually affects people who have suffered from a viral or bacterial infection such as the flu, Epstein-Barr virus or Zika virus.

Al-Farra said samples also came back positive for enterovirus, a group of viruses which typically spread to humans through contaminated water and cause fevers, body aches, sore throats, and rashes.

He explained that these diseases spread because Israel has destroyed the sewage system in Gaza, forcing people to drink water polluted by sewage.

Israeli bombardment destroyed 70 percent of all sewage pumps and wastewater treatment plants in Gaza, global advocacy group Oxfam reported in July 2024. Oxfam has also accused Israel of restricting the entry of Oxfam’s water testing equipment.

Occasionally, GBS may also be triggered by surgery.

Symptoms can vary according to how severe the illness is.

What is Guillain-Barre syndrome?

GBS typically begins with tingling, numbness or muscle weakness in the feet and legs, which can then progress to the rest of the body.

Other symptoms include muscle pain in the back or legs; weakness of chest muscles, which can lead to breathing difficulties; difficulty moving the eyes; and difficulty speaking or swallowing.

GBS can be life-threatening, with a small proportion of patients dying due to complications such as paralysis of the respiratory muscles, blood infections, pulmonary embolism, or cardiac arrest.

By matching the patients’ symptoms with the disease.

However, the symptoms of GBS overlap with other diseases, so tests are needed to support a GBS diagnosis.

A lumbar puncture might be ordered, where a small amount of fluid is collected from the spinal canal in the lower back.

This fluid is tested for a change consistent with GBS.

Another test is electromyography, where thin-needle electrodes are inserted in the muscles to monitor nerve activity.

GBS does not have a cure, but treatments can be used to alleviate its symptoms.

For instance, if a patient is having difficulty breathing, they are put on a ventilator. If a patient is experiencing muscle weakness, rehabilitation exercises can help.

Since GBS is an autoimmune disease, immunotherapy is used to manage early symptoms.

This includes plasma exchange, which removes antibodies from the blood. These treatments are most effective when started within a couple of weeks after symptoms develop.