Pune GBS Outbreak: Municipal Water, Tankers, and RO Plants Found Unsafe for Drinking

Sinhagad Road, 20th February 2025: Following the outbreak of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in the Sinhagad Road area, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has launched a large-scale water testing campaign. The test results have raised serious concerns, revealing that water from municipal supply, private tankers, and reverse osmosis (RO) plants is unfit for drinking. Contaminants, including bacteria and viruses, have been detected in 70 water samples collected from the area.

The Water Supply Department tested 1,618 water samples from the municipal supply in the affected area at the Parvati Water Center. Of these, 12 samples were found to be unsafe for drinking, with Coliform and E. coli bacteria detected.

Additionally, 18 samples of private tanker water were tested at the same center. Shockingly, 15 samples were found unfit for consumption, while results for the remaining three samples are still pending.

Furthermore, 36 RO water projects in the area were examined. Out of these, 23 samples were deemed unfit for drinking, raising concerns about the overall water quality in the region.

Viral Contamination Identified

In a separate investigation, 206 water samples from the Sinhagad Road area were sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) for testing. The results confirmed the presence of:

Norovirus in six samples.

Campylobacter jejuni in one sample, specifically from tap water in Morya Society, Kirkitwadi.

Additionally, the Public Health Laboratory tested 43 water samples from the affected area, revealing that 13 samples were unfit for drinking. Among them, E. coli was detected in six samples, while coliform bacteria were found in nine samples. These contaminated samples were traced to sources such as Nanded well, Nisarga Heights well, and the DSK Vishwa water tank.

GBS Outbreak Linked to Contaminated Water Sources

A significant number of GBS cases have been linked to unsafe drinking water. The highest number of patients, 79, had consumed water from the Nanded Village Well, while 40 cases were traced to the municipal water supply. Other sources linked to GBS cases include Khadakwasla Dam, Vadgaon Budruk Water Purification Center, and Gram Panchayat supply.