Maharashtra Reports 181 Guillain-Barre Syndrome Cases, 4 Deaths Under Investigation

Mumbai- Maharashtra's Public Health Department has documented 181 confirmed cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), with an additional 27 suspected cases under observation. The Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme reports that eight deaths have occurred, with four definitively linked to GBS and four others under investigation.

The outbreak has primarily affected the Pune region, with 94 cases reported from newly incorporated PMC areas, 42 from Pune Municipal Corporation, 30 from Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, and 32 from rural Pune. Ten cases have been recorded in other districts. Of the total patients, 131 have recovered and been discharged, while 42 remain in intensive care, with 21 requiring ventilator support.

Health officials note that no new cases were reported on Sunday. The syndrome's primary symptoms include sudden onset paralysis or weakness in extremities, difficulty walking, and prolonged diarrhea.

The state government has implemented comprehensive response measures, deploying a rapid response team to affected areas and enhancing surveillance activities in Pune's municipal and rural districts. Environmental testing has been extensive, with 6,977 water samples analyzed at the Public Health Laboratory, revealing contamination in 85 water sources.

House-to-house surveillance has covered 86,650 residences across the region, including 46,534 in Pune Municipal Corporation, 26,160 in PCMC, and 13,956 in rural areas. For further investigation, 82 serum samples have been sent to NIMHANS Bengaluru for specialized antibody testing.

Health authorities are advising residents to take preventive measures, including boiling drinking water and avoiding stale or undercooked food, particularly meat products. The health department emphasizes that while the situation warrants attention, there's no cause for panic as control measures are firmly in place.