The count of suspected Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) deaths in Pune has risen to five, with the total number of suspected cases now at 149. Three new cases were reported on Saturday, and of these, 124 patients have been diagnosed with GBS. Currently, 28 people are on ventilator support.
A 60-year-old man from Warje Malwadi, who was diagnosed with GBS, passed away at Sassoon General Hospital on Friday. He was admitted on January 16 with severe symptoms and was in the medical intensive care unit before succumbing to respiratory failure with autonomic dysfunction and quadriplegia on January 31. He also had a history of hypertension, which may have contributed to complications.
According to Pune district health authorities, efforts are ongoing to monitor and manage the rising cases, with special attention to critically ill patients requiring intensive care support.
Are Things Getting Better Or Worse?
As per the Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) statistics shared by Maharashtra health department authorities with the public on Saturday 1st February, 149 suspected patients and 5 suspected deaths of GBS have been found until now. Of these 124 are diagnosed as confirmed GBS cases.
In comparison, the statistics for a day earlier (Friday, 31st January) were - 140 suspected patients and 4 suspected deaths of GBS and of these, 98 were said to have been diagnosed as confirmed GBS cases.
Again, figures for Saturday show that apart from cases from Pune municipal corporation areas, newly added villages in PMC area, Pimpri Chinchwad, and Pune rural, 08 are from other districts. And 28 are on ventilatory oxygen support. Incidentally, just a day earlier, 11 patients were from districts other than Pune and 18 of the patients were on ventilators.
About the latest figures declared on Saturday (1 February), the civic and health authorities say that three suspected new GBS cases were reported today, and the remaining six cases are from previous days. What are the state health authorities saying?
Dr Babita Kamalapurkar, Joint director of health, Maharashtra said that PMC and district health authorities have been instructed to increase surveillance activities. “However, citizens should not panic. Preventive and control measures are being implemented. Care should be taken to boil water for drinking purposes. Refrain from eating partially cooked meat,” Dr Kamalapurkar said.
Amid the rising cases of GBS in Maharashtra, Director of Medical Education (DME) D.S.V.L. Narasimham appealed to the public through a press release issued on Saturday, February 1. Assuring the common public that there is no cause for panic, and emphasizing that the State has all necessary measures in place to manage the situation effectively, Dr. Narasimham explained that GBS is NOT a contagious disease but a rare neurological disorder in which the body’s immune system mistakenly
targets the peripheral nerves.
The condition typically begins with tingling and weakness in the limbs, which can escalate to muscle weakness and, in severe cases, paralysis, he explained. Hospitals across the State have been directed to implement treatment protocols and ensure optimal patient care, Dr D.S.V.L. Narasimham said.
“In many cases, it is triggered by infections like flu, gastroenteritis, or respiratory infections. The situation in Maharashtra is being closely monitored by local health authorities and national experts,” he stated.
While there is no direct way to prevent GBS, maintaining good hygiene practices can help reduce the risk of infections that may trigger the syndrome. This includes washing hands before meals, after visiting public places, and avoiding close contact with individuals who are unwell.
"It is a serious condition, but not an infectious disease and the vast majority of cases recover with timely medical intervention,” Dr. Narasimham emphasized. He urged individuals to seek immediate medical attention if they experience unusual weakness, numbness, or tingling in their limbs, particularly following flu-like symptoms.
“It is important that one seeks medical attention promptly if one experiences unusual weakness, tingling, or numbness in your limbs or have flu-like symptoms. Early diagnosis is critical for effective treatment of GBS,” he added, calling on the public to remain calm and rely on official sources for accurate updates.
How To Prevent GBS?
Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) can affect people of all ages, but the risk increases as one gets older. It is also seen more often in men than in women, though the exact reason for this is unclear. There is limited global data on how common GBS is, but experts believe that people in low- and middle-income countries may be more vulnerable due to poor hygiene and higher exposure to infections.
GBS is not a contagious disease, meaning it does not spread from person to person through any contagion. However, to reduce the risk of infections that may trigger GBS, people should avoid eating undercooked poultry, meat, and dairy products. It is important to drink only treated, purified, or boiled water. Foods that spoil easily due to moisture should be cooked thoroughly before eating.
Maintaining good personal and food hygiene can help prevent respiratory and stomach infections, which may lower the chances of developing infection-related GBS.
(The writer is a senior independent journalist.)