GBS outbreak: As Maharashtra continues to grapple with the rising cases of Guillain-Barr syndrome (GBS) continues, the number of cases in Pune has increased to 180. The rare neurological disorder is also reported in Mumbai after a 64-year-old woman became the first patient diagnosed with the nerve disorder in the city.
According to a report by Business Standard, the seven cases in Pune comprise four fresh cases and three from previous days, an official from the health department said on Friday.
“Of the 180 suspected cases, 146 have been diagnosed with GBS. At least 35 patients are from Pune Municipal Corporation, 88 from newly added villages in the PMC area, 25 from the Pimpri Chinchwad civic limits, 24 from Pune Rural and eight from other districts. While 79 patients have been discharged, 58 are in ICU and 22 on ventilator support,” a health department release said.
The number of deaths in the region stood at six, it added. Mumbai reported its first case of GBS on Friday after a 64-year-old woman was diagnosed with the rare nerve disorder, civic officials said.
What is the cause behind the surge in Pune?
The outbreak in Pune is being traced to a pathogen called campylobacter jejuni, a leading cause of foodborne infections, and the biggest driver of GBS worldwide, BBC reported.
The link between the two was discovered in the 1990s in rural China, where the pathogen was common in chickens. According to experts, the GBS outbreaks occurred every monsoon as children played in water contaminated by chicken or duck droppings.
According to experts, while most cases of GBS around the world come from undercooked poultry, it can also spread through water, similar to cholera or salmonella.
What is the status of GBS outbreak in Mumbai?
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner and its state-appointed administrator, Bhushan Gagrani, said the patient was currently undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a civic-run hospital, as reported by PTI. Reportedly, the woman, who resides in the Andheri (East) area of the city, was hospitalised with a history of fever and diarrhoea that was followed by ascending paralysis.
The woman was initially hospitalised on January 21. Within three days, she developed difficulty in walking and progressive weakness in her lower limbs, PTI reported.
A provisional diagnosis of Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (AIDP), a variant of GBS, was made based on clinical findings and diagnostic tests, said the officials, and described her current condition as “moderate”.
What is Guillain-Barr syndrome (GBS)?
GBS is a rare condition in which a person’s immune system attacks the peripheral nerves, resulting in muscle weakness, loss of sensation in the legs and/or arms, as well as problems swallowing or breathing. Severe cases can result in near-total paralysis. GBS is more common in adults and males, though people of all ages can be affected.
What is the status of Guillain-Barr syndrome (GBS) in Maharashtra?
Maharashtra Health Minister Prakash Abitkar on Friday said the state government will bring a law to ensure people get clean drinking water and also fine entities that contaminate and pollute water.
The Pune Municipal Corporation, state health department, etc, have worked very hard to ensure GBS cases are contained, he told reporters.
“Several agencies such as an expert team from the Centre, World Health Organization and state health department are working in tandem on the various aspects of the disease and ensuring that such cases do not spread. Now, since it is confirmed that waterborne bacteria has triggered the outbreak, responsibility will be fixed and action taken,” he asserted as quoted by PTI.
“We are also planning to bring a law with provisions of fines on those entities that contribute to the pollution and contamination of water. The new law will ensure common people get clean drinking water through their respective civic and local bodies. We will present a draft of the bill in the upcoming Budget session,” Abitkar said.
He said the PMC has been directed to ensure proper chlorination of water in the Nanded village area, which has seen a high number of GBS cases.
“Proper monitoring is being done in Nanded village to ensure clean water is supplied. Various teams were tasked with collecting water samples from various sources, including sewage released by some resorts on the upper side of Khadakwasla dam. They are also verifying whether the contamination was triggered by poultry farms on the upper side of Khadakwasla,” the minister said as quoted by PTI.