Contaminated Water Linked to GBS Outbreak in Pune; 73 Cases Reported

Pune, 25th January 2025: A recent investigation has revealed that contaminated water and poor food quality are likely causes of the Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) outbreak in Pune district. The affected areas, primarily relying on water tankers, lack proper water purification systems and adequate pipeline infrastructure, leaving residents vulnerable to waterborne diseases.
As of today, 73 GBS cases have been reported across the region, with 44 cases in rural Pune, 11 in Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) limits, 15 in Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) area, and 3 in other locations. Most cases in rural Pune and within municipal limits are concentrated in Kirkatwadi, Nandoshi, Nanded, and Dhayari villages.
Health officials are urging residents to boil water before consumption as a precautionary measure. The municipal administration is currently supplying water through tankers and using bleaching powder to purify well water in affected areas. However, the lack of proper water pipeline infrastructure means that these villages may continue to face clean water shortages for several more years.
In response to the outbreak, PMC has initiated a survey in the Sinhagad Road area. Plans are underway to install protective nets over wells in Kirkatwadi and Khadakwasla to prevent contamination.
The Integrated Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) of Maharashtra’s Public Health Department reports that out of the 73 patients, 47 are male and 26 are female. Fourteen patients are currently on ventilator support. The age group most affected is 60-69 years, with 15 cases reported.
Health authorities have sent blood and stool samples to the National Institute of Virology in Pune for testing. While all samples tested negative for Zika, Dengue, and Chikungunya, 9 stool samples tested positive for Norovirus, and 3 for Campylobacter jejuni bacteria.
Officials are advising the public not to panic but to seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms such as sudden weakness in limbs, difficulty walking, or prolonged diarrhoea. They also emphasize the importance of maintaining personal hygiene and consuming clean, fresh food.
As the investigation continues, questions arise about when adequate water pipeline infrastructure will be developed in these areas to ensure a long-term solution to the clean water supply issue.