Guillain-Barré Syndrome Death Toll in Pune Rises to Six; Caseload Hits 173
Pune has been grappling with a rising number of cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), with the death toll increasing to six following the tragic passing of a 63-year-old patient on Wednesday, February 7. The patient, who was from the Karvenagar area, succumbed to complications after being admitted to Kashibai Navale Hospital in Narhe on January 28. This marks the sixth death in the city linked to the ongoing GBS outbreak.
The 63-year-old patient initially sought medical attention after experiencing fever, diarrhoea, and difficulty walking, which were followed by bilateral lower limb weakness. After undergoing nerve conduction velocity (NCV) tests, which confirmed the diagnosis of Guillain-Barré Syndrome, the patient was given an intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment cycle to manage the condition. Despite medical intervention, his condition continued to deteriorate, and he passed away on Wednesday evening at around 5:30 PM.
According to hospital officials, the patient’s underlying health conditions played a significant role in his death. He had a history of uncontrolled diabetes and passed away due to an acute ischemic stroke. While GBS was not the direct cause of his death, health authorities have listed GBS as the third contributing factor. Despite efforts to treat the stroke under the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana scheme, the patient died before treatment could be initiated. Alongside the death of this patient, the total number of GBS cases in Pune has increased to 173, with three new cases being reported in the past 24 hours. These new cases have raised alarms about the spread of the condition, and the situation is being closely monitored by health authorities. Health officials have confirmed that several patients are being treated at hospitals across the city, with six ICU patients currently receiving ventilator support, including three paediatric cases.
A doctor at the hospital confirmed that another GBS case was admitted to the health hub on Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases at the facility to 16. Five of these patients have already been discharged, while the remaining patients remain under observation. The hospital is making significant efforts to manage the rising number of patients, and health experts are closely watching the development of the situation. In a related development, a senior state official confirmed that one of the 62 water samples tested by the National Institute of Virology (NIV) had come back positive for the presence of Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni), a bacterium that can cause gastrointestinal illness. The water sample was collected from a housing society in Kirkatwadi, which has been identified as a GBS cluster area. This is the first confirmation of C. jejuni in a water sample from the area, further raising concerns about the possible role of contaminated water in the ongoing outbreak. This confirmation of C. jejuni comes on the heels of the increasing number of GBS cases and points to the potential link between water contamination and the rapid spread of the illness in certain areas of Pune. Health authorities have since ramped up efforts to address water quality issues and prevent further exposure.
As the number of GBS cases continues to climb, health officials have intensified their efforts to contain the outbreak. There have been widespread campaigns to raise awareness about symptoms and prevention, with the health department urging residents to be vigilant and seek medical care if they experience early signs of GBS. Local authorities are also working to improve water sanitation and quality across affected areas, with particular attention being paid to the Kirkatwadi locality. For residents like Ravi Kumar, a local from the Kirkatwadi area, the rising number of cases is a source of concern. “We’ve never seen anything like this before. It’s frightening to think that something as simple as contaminated water could be making people so sick,” he says. His neighbour, Meena Deshmukh, who recently recovered from a mild form of GBS, echoed these sentiments, adding, “The authorities need to act quickly to make sure this doesn’t spread further.” The rising GBS cases and related deaths in Pune serve as a stark reminder of the importance of public health vigilance and water quality management. With authorities actively investigating the cause of the outbreak, residents are urged to stay informed and take preventive measures to protect themselves and their families. The confirmation of Campylobacter jejuni in water samples highlights the need for stricter measures to ensure the safety of drinking water and other public health initiatives to prevent further spread of the disease.
