182 Guillain Barré Syndrome Cases Confirmed in Peru - National Emergency Declared

According to numerous reports, the Republic of Peru is confronted with another Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) outbreak.

The Peruvian Government recently published Supreme Decree No. 019-2023-SA in the Official Gazette El Peruano, declaring a national health emergency due to the unusual increase in GBS cases in 18 of the country's 24 departments.

As reported on July 10, 2023, 182 cases of GBS have been confirmed, and four people have died since June 2023, per MercoPress.

Peru's president Dina Boluarte also issued a decree allocating $3.27 million for an action plan to improve patient care, including acquiring 5,000 immunoglobulin vials for treating patients affected by GBS.

Issued on July 8, 2023, this emergency declaration will be valid for 90 calendar days.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says GBS is the most common form of acute flaccid paralysis worldwide. It is characterized by motor weakness and other symptoms.

The CDC reported in a November 2020 Research Letter that from May 20–July 27, 2019, the Government identified 683 suspected or confirmed GBS cases in Peru.

Of the 683 GBS patients, 287 (42%) had descending muscle weakness, and 446 (65.3%) had ascending muscle weakness.

Of 426 patients for whom hospitalization data were available, 64 (15%) required mechanical ventilation.

Of 147 patients with an electrodiagnostic exam, 100 (68%) had acute motor axonal neuropathy.

The CDC stated this GBS outbreak was unusual because of the many cases. The incidence rate was nearly 25 times higher than expected.

And the rapid increase in numbers was followed by an equally precipitous decrease, which might suggest a point-source exposure.