Pune Records Spike in Guillain-Barré Syndrome Cases; Contaminated Food Suspected

Pune, 21st January 2025: Three prominent hospitals in Pune have raised alarms with health authorities after diagnosing 26 cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in a week. The affected individuals, ranging from children to adults, primarily hail from areas such as Sinhagad Road, Dhayari, and nearby localities. The spike has been linked to contaminated food or water causing diarrhoea and abdominal discomfort.
Doctors at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, Navale Hospital, and Poona Hospital are treating these cases, and samples of blood, stool, throat swabs, saliva, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) have been sent to the ICMR-National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, for further investigation. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) health department has also been alerted.
What is Guillain-Barré Syndrome?
Guillain-Barré Syndrome is a rare neurological condition in which the immune system, in its response to an infection, mistakenly attacks the nerves. Symptoms include severe limb weakness, paralysis, and, in some cases, respiratory distress. While the condition can be life-threatening if untreated, most patients recover with timely intervention.
Children Among the Most Affected:
Out of the 26 reported cases, 11 involve children aged 8 to 15 years, who appear to be the most severely affected.
“Many of these children experienced weakness or paralysis in their limbs after bouts of diarrhoea or stomach infections. A majority reported eating food from outside,” said a paediatric neurologist associated with both Navale Hospital and Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital.
He shared alarming details of two cases:
An eight-year-old boy initially had fever and drooping eyelids. Within 24 hours, he developed slurred speech and breathing difficulties, requiring ventilator support.
A 12-year-old girl from Dhayari developed acute limb weakness and severe respiratory distress within 24 hours of consuming outside food.
Hospital Response
Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital is currently treating 16 of the total cases, while other patients are being managed at Navale Hospital and Poona Hospital.
The sudden surge in GBS cases has raised concerns about hygiene and food safety in the affected areas. The PMC health department is expected to initiate sanitation and public awareness campaigns to prevent further cases.
Doctors have urged residents to practice caution by avoiding outside food and maintaining proper hygiene, particularly during outbreaks of waterborne diseases.