GBS is a rare immune disorder that damages peripheral nerves (that is, nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord). In most people GBS is triggered by exposure to an infectious illness, and the most frequently encountered infectious illness is a gastrointestinal infection known as Campylobacter jejuni. Campylobacter jejuni is commonly transmitted through food, particularly undercooked poultry and other meats. Although GBS is very rare (it affects about 1 person per 100,000 inhabitants per year), when the triggers for GBS in a community increase then the occurrence of GBS can also increase. We are closely watching one community in Tlazcala Mexico in which a spike in GBS has occurred. Of 11 confirmed cases with GBS, 8 have had confirmed exposure to Campylobacter.
We encourage local authorities to continue investigations for the sources of increased campylobacter in Tlazcala. We also encourage those living in or near Tlazcala to be especially careful to avoid potential infectious exposure. To minimize the risk of contracting Campylobacter, it is advised to follow certain precautions. These include:
- Take extra care to cook food thoroughly, ensuring it reaches a safe temperature. Avoid consuming meat that has not been adequately refrigerated.ย
- Ensure that the water you consume is from a safe source. If unsure, it is recommended to drink boiled or bottled water.ย
- Before consuming raw fruits and vegetables ensure they are thoroughlyย washed.ย
- Wash your hands frequently and properly, especially after handling raw meatย
If you experience numbness or weakness in yourย arms or legs, or develop difficultyย with walking we encourageย you to bring those symptoms to theย attentionย of your doctor, especially if those symptomsย followed a gastrointestinal illness (abdominalย pain or diarrhea) by 1 to 6 weeks. If you have developed GBSย we encourage you to work with your local health care team to manage the condition. The GBS Global Medical Advisory Board is available to answer questions from you or your doctor. We are committed to providing you with accurate and reliable information about your condition, and to support you and your doctors through these difficult times.
El sรญndrome de Guillain-Barrรฉ (GBS) es un trastorno inmunitario raro que daรฑa los nervios perifรฉricos (es decir, los nervios fuera del cerebro y la mรฉdula espinal). En la mayorรญa de las personas, el GBS es desencadenado por la exposiciรณn a una enfermedad infecciosa. La enfermedad infecciosa mรกs frecuente que hay es una infecciรณn gastrointestinal conocida como Campylobacter jejuni. Campylobacter jejuni se transmite comรบnmente a travรฉs de alimentos, especialmente aves de corral y otras carnes poco cocidas. Aunque el GBS es muy poco comรบn (afecta a aproximadamente 1 persona por cada 100,000 habitantes por aรฑo), cuando los desencadenantes del GBS aumentan en una comunidad, tambiรฉn puede aumentar la incidencia del GBS. Estamos observando de cerca una comunidad en Tlazcala, Mรฉxico, en la que ha ocurrido un aumento en el GBS. De 11 casos confirmados con GBS, 8 han tenido exposiciรณn confirmada a Campylobacter.
Animamos a las autoridades locales a continuar investigando las fuentes de aumento de campylobacter en Tlazcala. Tambiรฉn alentamos a aquellos que viven en o cerca de Tlazcala a tener especial cuidado para evitar una posible exposiciรณn infecciosa. Para minimizar el riesgo de contraer Campylobacter, se recomienda seguir ciertas precauciones. Estas incluyen:
- Tener especial cuidado al cocinar los alimentos a fondo, asegurรกndose de que alcancen una temperatura segura. Evitar consumir carne que no haya sido refrigerada adecuadamente.
- Asegurarse de que el agua que consume provenga de una fuente segura. Si no estรก seguro, se recomienda beber agua hervida o embotellada.
- Antes de consumir frutas y verduras crudas, asegรบrese de lavarlas a fondo.
- Lavarse las manos con frecuencia y correctamente, especialmente despuรฉs de manipular carne cruda.
Si experimenta entumecimiento o debilidad en los brazos o piernas, o desarrolla dificultades para caminar, le aconsejamos a que informe a su mรฉdico de esos sรญntomas, especialmente si esos sรญntomas siguieron a una enfermedad gastrointestinal (dolor abdominal o diarrea) en un perรญodo de 1 a 6 semanas. Si ha desarrollado GBS, le aconsejamos a que trabaje con su equipo local de atenciรณn mรฉdica para manejar la condiciรณn. El Consejo Mรฉdico Asesor Global de GBS estรก disponible para responder preguntas suyas o de su mรฉdico. Nos comprometemos a proporcionarle informaciรณn precisa y de confianza sobre su condiciรณn, y a apoyarlo a usted y a sus mรฉdicos en estos tiempos difรญciles.
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