In a tragic development, a 40-year-old man from Solapur, Maharashtra, has become the first person in the state to die from suspected Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). The man who had been reporting breathlessness, weakness in his lower limbs, and diarrhea was admitted to a private hospital in Solapur on 18 January. He died at the hospital while on ventilator support on Sunday, 25 January. As of now, a preliminary report suggests GBS as the cause of death; blood samples have also been sent for confirmation to National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune. A clinical autopsy was also performed.
Pune Sees Surge in GBS Cases: Over 100 Confirmed
Pune has seen a sharp rise in the number of GBS cases, with 101 reported by health authorities till January 25, 2025. The cases include 68 males and 33 females, with 16 patients requiring ventilator support. GBS is a rare neurological disorder that causes muscle weakness and numbness, often following bacterial or viral infections. The outbreak in Pune is suspected to be associated with contaminated water, possibly weakening the immune system of the victims.
Measures by State Government
At the home, after having the first cases surfacing, Maharashtra’s State Health Minister, Prakash Abitkar, went to a well on Sinhgad Road, near Nanded village that is suspected of being the source of contaminated water. He assured that a review meeting would be held to address the issue and formulate SOPs to prevent further cases of GBS. Moreover, the state has covered the treatment of GBS under the Mahatma Phule Health Scheme, where the patient will be allowed to spend up to Rs 2 lakh in medical expenses. Special budgetary provisions will also be allocated to combat the outbreak.
Healthcare Response: Dedicated Facilities and Surveillance
The Pune Municipal Corporation has created a 45-bed facility in Kamla Nehru Hospital dedicated for GBS patients to manage the case load. Additionally, the state and local health department-formed RRT has been active in surveillance activities and has conducted a house-to-house survey in the affected areas in more than 25,500 homes. It is now focused on the detection of source points and advice to the public about appropriate safety measures.
Preventive measures and public awareness
Taking into account the prevalence of GBS, public awareness about GBS and its symptoms is being created by authorities. Boiling drinking water and adopting health hygienic measures are being advised to the residents to avoid contamination. Along with public awareness, the people are also being educated about food safety and proper sanitary measures to prevent the further spreading of the disease.
Medical Prognosis
Although GBS is a serious disorder, experts in the health field have reassured people that it is unlikely to herald an epidemic or a pandemic. The majority of affected persons are treated appropriately and go on to make a full recovery. As the situation continues to unfold, medical teams continue to monitor the spread of the disorder and care for the affected persons as needed.
The GBS outbreak is being managed aggressively by the health officials along with the Maharashtra government. The new measures in healthcare along with enhanced surveillance ensure optimistic containment of the situation by the authorities. The public awareness together with preventive action remains the priority to reduce the further impact from this rare disease.
