logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2025
11m 57s

Guillain-Barre syndrome: What is it?

Bbc World Service
About this episode

India is dealing with an outbreak of Guillain-Barre syndrome. It’s a rare condition where your immune system attacks nerve cells, causing muscle weakness and paralysis. There have been 160 reported cases since early January in Pune, hitting kids as young as six years old. Seven people are thought to have died.

Iqra shares her experience of having GBS as a child and she speaks with BBC health reporter Michelle Roberts to get the details on the disease. Plus, our reporter Vandhna Bhan takes us through what’s happening in India.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Iqra Farooq Producers: Emily Horler, Benita Barden and Adam Chowdhury Editor: Verity Wilde

Up next
Aug 22
ID please! Why the UK is checking your age online
In the UK, if you want to watch pornography or see content on sites like X, Reddit and Discord that is deemed only suitable for people over 18 years old, you now need to provide your identification to prove you are old enough to access this material. The UK government says its On ... Show More
11m 33s
Aug 21
Why fake weddings are India’s latest party trend
The big fat 'fake' Indian wedding is social media’s latest party trend. Fake wedding parties have taken the world and social media by storm with people getting together to enjoy all the fun of a wedding party: the food, Bollywood music, dancing and glamorous outfits. But there ar ... Show More
10m 5s
Aug 20
Why the world is divided on plastic pollution
Life is full of plastic, but it’s not always fantastic. We know that plastic is super useful: it helps keep food fresh and lets medicines, like vaccines, be delivered at scale to billions of people. But the world is drowning in it. In fact, the amount of plastic on our planet now ... Show More
11 m
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2024
Are we close to a breakthrough for Multiple Sclerosis?
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease which can lead to loss of mobility and vision. Almost 3 million people worldwide are affected by it. There is no cure, but attempts are being made to accelerate the healing process with treatments to restore what the disease has d ... Show More
22m 58s
Jun 17
Information Inoculation: Defending Against Medical Myths: The real reason polio is so dangerous | Dan Kwartler
In 1952, polio was everywhere: killing or paralyzing roughly half a million people annually. Yet just 10 years later, paralytic polio cases in the US dropped by 96% and we were on track to get rid of polio for good. But in recent years, the virus started striking back. So, what’s ... Show More
34m 45s
Apr 2025
Why France-Algeria Relations Have Collapsed
In today’s episode, we cover the dramatic deterioration in Franco-Algerian relations, calls by Israeli reservists for the government to strike a deal with Hamas, China’s strong Q1 growth, the conviction of Peru’s former president.Watch TLDR’s latest videos here:https://youtu.be/p ... Show More
6m 30s
Aug 2024
What's behind recurrent sexual violence in India?
In India angry protesters are demanding better safety measures and more protection for women after the rape and murder of a female trainee doctor. It has raised questions about what can be done to stop further sex crimes. In this episode: Ranjana Kumari, Director for the Centre f ... Show More
24m 51s
Sep 2024
The mysteries of IBS
Irritable bowel syndrome affects one in five adults in the UK but is little understood and has no known cure. Hannah Moore discusses living with the condition with a friend and asks a dietitian whether new research into the mind-gut connection may bring answers. Help support our ... Show More
26m 4s
Oct 2024
To spit or not to spit - when handing your DNA over might harm you
Headlines: Fugitive dad and three kids spotted for the first time in three years in New Zealand, amendments to Labor's international student cap, Fox proposes new Presidential debate date and a Nepalese teen breaks record by summitting world’s 14 tallest peaks. Deep dive: Finding ... Show More
21m 30s
Nov 2021
How police will interview four year old Cleo Smith
The nation breathed a collective sigh of relief last Wednesday when four-year-old Cleo Smith was found alive and well.    Detectives arrive in Carnarvon today to begin the lengthy investigation into exactly what occurred in the 18 days she was missing.   We’re joined by Seven’s B ... Show More
16m 57s
Jul 2024
The mother whose son survived Ukraine hospital attack
NATO leaders gather in Washington DC, with the defence of Ukraine top of their agenda. We hear from a mother whose 12-year-old son survived Russia's missile attack on Kyiv's children's hospital on Monday. Also in the programme: a Democratic congressman defends the beleaguered US ... Show More
47m 28s
Aug 1
Saudi theme park incident: What should global safety standards look like?
After 23 people were injured after the ride collapsed, we speak to IAAPA’s Jakob Wahl about what world safety standards the attractions industry should adopt. Washington’s deadline hits as countries scramble to respond to sweeping U.S. tariffs - what impact will it have here? The ... Show More
37m 34s