Campylobacter Jejuni, a bacterium known for causing diarrhea, may be responsible for the recent spike in Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) cases in Maharashtra, ICMR Director General Dr. Rajiv Bahl said on Thursday.
Over the past few weeks, GBS has affected more than 170 people across various regions of Maharashtra, with Pune being the most impacted. The outbreak has also led to seven confirmed deaths.
“Nearly 20-30% of the tested samples have tested positive for Campylobacter Jejuni. These patients experienced infections caused by the bacteria before developing GBS,” Dr. Bahl stated.
In response, the Union Health Ministry has deployed a team of experts to assist state authorities in managing the situation.