News Brief
Maharashtra Reports Surge In Guillain-Barré Syndrome Cases; Centre Deploys Expert Team
(representative image) (Flickr/FDA).
The total number of suspected Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) cases in Maharashtra has risen to 127, with 72 confirmed cases, the state’s Public Health Department announced on Wednesday (29 January), as reported by ANI.
The outbreak has prompted urgent investigations, with the Union Health Ministry deploying a high-level multi-disciplinary team to Pune to assist in managing the surge.
The Maharashtra Health Department stated, "As of today, 127 suspected cases of GBS have been identified, with 2 suspected deaths. Out of these, 72 patients have been confirmed as having GBS. 23 patients are from Pune Municipal Corporation, 73 from newly added villages in the PMC area, 13 from Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, 9 from Pune Rural, and 9 from other districts. Among the affected individuals, 20 are currently on ventilator support."
With no clear cause yet identified, experts from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) are actively investigating possible links to infections.
"Samples of stool and blood of those infected are being tested at the NIV Pune lab, but yet to get any definite leads on the cause behind the spread," said ICMR Director General Dr Rajiv Bahl.
He noted that a cause or link is only found in 40 per cent of GBS cases, but early tests detected Campylobacter jejunum bacteria in four stool samples out of 21 tested, while norovirus was found in some.
These experts are working alongside state health officials, monitoring the situation and recommending public health interventions.
Meanwhile, water samples from different parts of Pune have been sent for chemical and biological analysis. Authorities have urged private medical practitioners to notify public health officials of any GBS cases and reassured citizens that measures are in place to contain the outbreak.
GBS is a rare neurological disorder that can cause sudden weakness or paralysis, sometimes leading to respiratory failure.
Explaining the condition’s progression, Dr Praveen Gupta, Principal Director & Chief of Neurology at Fortis Hospital, said, "GBS occurs when antibodies, created to fight bacterial or viral infections like Campylobacter jejuni or respiratory infections, cross-react with the peripheral nerves. This leads to ascending paralysis, starting in the legs and moving upward. In severe cases, patients may lose the ability to breathe due to thoracic muscle weakness and require ventilatory support."
Health officials have issued guidelines for maintaining water and food hygiene, advising residents to drink only boiled water and keep cooked and uncooked food separate to reduce infection risks. As investigations continue, health authorities remain vigilant to prevent further spread.
