41-Year-Old CA Becomes First Fatality in Pune’s GBS Cluster

Dhayari, 28th January 2025: Maharashtra’s Health Minister Prakash Abitkar confirmed on Monday that a 41-year-old chartered accountant from Dhayari, who passed away in Solapur on January 25, was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). “It is a confirmed case of GBS,” Abitkar stated.

This marks the first recorded death in the growing GBS cluster reported in Pune since January 9. The minister’s confirmation followed a health department bulletin on Sunday that had initially categorized the death as “suspected.” Since the cluster was identified, Pune has recorded 111 GBS cases, with 10 new cases reported on Sunday. Currently, 17 patients are on ventilator support, while seven have been discharged, according to Abitkar.

Meanwhile, a central multi-disciplinary team comprising experts from Delhi and Bengaluru has been deployed to assess the outbreak and support the state government in implementing effective public health measures.

According to the family, the Dhayari resident developed symptoms on January 9, starting with a bout of diarrhea. He reportedly self-medicated with over-the-counter drugs purchased from a local pharmacy. Feeling better after the medication, he traveled to his hometown of Solapur with his family on January 14.

A relative recounted, “He was fine enough to drive us to Solapur, but his condition worsened on January 17. The following day, when there was no improvement, we admitted him to the hospital.”

Doctors at the Solapur hospital revealed that the man was brought in with severe weakness and paralysis. “Nerve conduction studies were immediately conducted, leading to a diagnosis of GBS. He was started on treatment protocols, including a course of immunoglobulin injections. Initially, there were signs of improvement, but he developed limb weakness and eventually full-body paralysis,” said one of the treating doctors.

The patient reportedly spent six days in the ICU before being moved to a general ward. However, his condition deteriorated again, and he passed away late on January 25.

Medical teams are investigating potential triggers for GBS in the Pune cluster. Experts have already detected the presence of Campylobacter jejuni bacteria and norovirus in some patient samples.

Dr. Sanjeev Thakur, Dean of Vaishampayan Medical College in Solapur, stated, “Samples of cerebrospinal fluid, nerve tissue, and organs have been sent for detailed analysis to identify the infection that may have triggered the condition. The results are expected in about a week.”

Dr. Rakhi Mane, head of the Solapur Municipal Corporation’s health department, added, “Records show the patient had completed a five-day course of immunoglobulin therapy. He suffered a sudden deterioration and died shortly after being shifted back to the ICU. The nerve conduction studies confirmed GBS, and he had also reported tingling in his limbs and difficulty walking prior to admission.”