A 56-year-old woman from Pune is suspected to have died from Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) on Wednesday, marking the latest fatality in Maharashtra due to the rare nerve disorder. The woman, who had pre-existing health conditions, passed away at the state-run Sassoon General Hospital, according to health department officials. This comes just days after a 40-year-old man from Solapur also succumbed to suspected GBS.
The state’s health department reported 16 new cases of GBS on Wednesday, bringing the total number of suspected patients to 127. Out of these, 72 cases have been confirmed as GBS, with 20 patients currently on ventilators. The majority of the cases have been reported from Pune, but nine patients are from outside the district.
16 New Cases Reported
GBS is a rare and serious condition that leads to sudden muscle weakness and numbness, often affecting the limbs. It is typically triggered by viral or bacterial infections, with symptoms including severe weakness, loss of reflexes, and in some cases, difficulty breathing.
Health officials have been actively investigating the cause of the outbreak. A total of 121 stool samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) for testing, and 21 samples tested positive for Norovirus, while five were positive for Campylobacter. Blood samples from 200 patients were also analyzed, with results showing no evidence of Zika, dengue, or chikungunya viruses.
In an effort to determine the source of the outbreak, authorities have also tested 144 water samples across the city, with eight sources found to be contaminated. Experts believe that contaminated water could be a major factor contributing to the spread of the disease.
The health department continues to monitor the situation closely and has urged the public to take necessary precautions, including avoiding consumption of contaminated water, to prevent further cases of GBS. Authorities are also working to provide medical care and support to those affected by the disease.
