Pune, India – A recent outbreak of suspected Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in the Indian state of Maharashtra has caused concern among health officials as more cases are being reported. The death of a 56-year-old woman from Kirkatwadi, Sinhagad Road in Pune has added to the growing number of instances linked to the rare neurological disorder. Health authorities confirmed 16 new cases on Wednesday, bringing the total suspected cases of GBS to 127 in the state. Additionally, three individuals, including a child, have died in West Bengal over the past four days due to suspected GBS, although the exact cause of these deaths has not been officially confirmed.
The woman from Pune was admitted to a local hospital on January 15 after experiencing weakness, and her condition deteriorated, leading to her transfer to Sassoon General Hospital on January 17. Unfortunately, she passed away on January 28 after suffering from respiratory failure and sepsis. A medical review will determine if GBS was the underlying cause of her death. In another case, a 40-year-old man from Solapur, residing in Dhayari, Pune, was the first suspected fatality in Maharashtra, succumbing to suspected GBS on January 25.
Health officials have been actively investigating the outbreak, with 121 stool samples sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune for testing. Of these samples, 21 tested positive for Norovirus, while five contained Campylobacter bacteria. Authorities are looking into the possibility of water contamination as a potential link to the spread of the disease.
In West Bengal, the state has reported three suspected GBS deaths in the past four days, including a 10-year-old boy, a 17-year-old teenager, and a 48-year-old man. Despite the family members claiming that the deceased individuals were suffering from suspected GBS, health officials have not officially confirmed the cause of death. Presently, four more children with suspected GBS are undergoing treatment in Kolkata hospitals.
The situation has prompted political response in Pune, where Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule criticized the civic administration for what she believes are “urban planning failures” contributing to the outbreak. Sule has urged the government to cover medical expenses for affected patients and emphasized the need for a scientific investigation into the root cause of the outbreak. Experts suspect that bacterial and viral infections may weaken the immune system, potentially triggering GBS, with contaminated water being investigated as a possible source in Maharashtra. Testing has revealed high levels of E. coli in a well near Khadakwasla Dam, a key water source for Pune, although confirmation of its active use is pending.
