PUNE: Maharashtra’s total count of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) cases has risen to 163 after five new cases were reported in Pune on Monday (Feb 3), according to the state health department. At least eight of these patients are from neighboring districts, the report added. No new deaths were recorded.
Doctors, however, suggest that the outbreak may be subsiding. “As many as 16 of our 36 patients have been discharged,” said Dr. Sameer Jog, consultant intensivist at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, one of the first hospitals to observe a surge in GBS cases on January 20.
“Between January 15 and 19, we were seeing three to four new cases daily. That number dropped to about one per day between January 26 and 29. In the last three days, we haven’t had any new admissions,” Dr. Jog said, adding that discharged patients had shown significant improvement, including better muscle strength.
Overall, patient discharges across hospitals increased from 38 to 47 on Monday. However, 21 patients remain on ventilator support.
Dr. Jog emphasized the need to continue precautionary measures, particularly ensuring clean and chlorinated water supply across the city.
Neurologist Dr. Sudhir Kothari from Pune Hospital also noted a decline in new cases. “Earlier, we were getting at least one case per day. Then it dropped to one patient every two to four days. In the past week, we haven’t seen any new admissions,” he said.
Dr. Ameet Dravid, an infectious disease specialist associated with Poona and Noble Hospitals, echoed this observation, stating that the surge has slowed significantly. “In the first week of the spike (Jan 15-22), we saw eight cases. From Jan 22-29, there were only two. And in the last few days, we’ve had none. This trend suggests a gradual decline,” he explained.
Dr. Dravid also highlighted a possible link between the outbreak and gastrointestinal infections caused by Campylobacter jejuni, detected through BioFire tests. “Most patients had gastroenteritis about 12-15 days before developing GBS. If the current pattern holds, we may see even fewer cases next week,” he said.
An official from Navale Hospital confirmed a similar trend. “We currently have 12 GBS patients admitted, with four on ventilators. Most are from Kinhatwadi and Nanded Gaon. Four patients were discharged, and we haven’t had a new case in the last three days,” the official said.
The exact cause behind the unusual GBS spike remains unclear, though most cases have been reported in newly merged Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) areas. Authorities are investigating potential sources of contamination, including private water vendors using Reverse Osmosis (RO) plants to fill 20-litre water cans. Some samples from these cans, sold in affected areas, were found to have high levels of bacterial contamination, officials said.
