As per health department officials, the suspected cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) have reached 130 in Pune and other districts of Maharashtra. There have been two suspected deaths so far of the rare nerve disorder, a 56-year-old woman from Pune and a man from Solapur district.
New Cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome
On Wednesday, the officials said that three more suspected cases had been reported. Of the 130 suspected cases, 73 have been confirmed to be GBS. Cases are distributed as follows:
25 from PMC areas in Pune
74 newly added villages under PMC
13 from PCMC
9 from Pune rural areas
9 from other districts
Response and Preventive Measures by the Government
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar who was presiding over a meeting of the District Planning Committee here instructed health officers to take tough measures against those hospitals that overcharge Guillain-Barre Syndrome patients. The Deputy Chief Minister also emphasized the proper and adequate provision of essential drugs to treat this disease.
GBS is a rare neurological disorder characterized by sudden numbness, muscle weakness, and severe limb weakness. The outbreak in Pune and its surrounding areas is suspected to be due to contaminated water sources. Experts believe the bacteria Campylobacter jejuni, commonly found in contaminated food and water, is the likely cause of the surge in cases.
The authorities are now focusing on water quality checks and public awareness campaigns to curb further infections.