Tejas Navale
Pune, January 22, 2025: Pune has reported a concerning increase in suspected cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare neurological disorder. As many as 24 suspected cases have been identified across the district, raising questions about the sudden surge. Initial investigations have linked the rise to Campylobacter jejuni, a bacterial infection commonly associated with contaminated water and food, according to the Neurological Society of Pune.
Among the reported cases, five patients are from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) limits, two from the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) area, 16 from rural regions, and one from outside the district. These patients are currently receiving treatment at various hospitals: 10 at Dinanath Mangeshkar Hospital, five at Poona Hospital, four at Kashibai Navale Hospital, three at Bharati Hospital, and one each at Sahyadri Hospital (Deccan) and Ankura Hospital (Aundh).
Two critically ill patients, one at Kashibai Navale Hospital and another at Bharati Hospital, are on ventilators, while eight others are undergoing intensive care treatment. At Pune Hospital, tests confirmed the presence of Campylobacter bacteria, which is believed to be the root cause of GBS in several cases.
Dr. Rahul Kulkarni, President of the Neurological Society of Pune, said, “Campylobacter bacteria enter the human body through contaminated food and water, triggering GBS.” This disease is treatable with timely medical intervention, so there is no need for panic,” he said. He urged citizens to boil water and avoid consuming outside food.
Meanwhile, Municipal Corporation Health Chief Dr. Nina Borade revealed that samples from eight suspected GBS patients have been sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) for confirmation. The health department has also launched a survey in affected areas to identify others with similar symptoms and determine any recent travel history of the patients. Drinking water samples from these regions have been dispatched for quality testing.
