Pune: Second Death Reported as Guillain-Barré Syndrome Cases Rise to 127 in Maharashtra
Pune, 29th January 2025: The number of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) cases in Maharashtra has surged to 127, with another fatality recorded in Pune. A 56-year-old woman, identified as Mangala Umaji Chavan, succumbed to the condition at Sassoon General Hospital, marking the second death since the outbreak began.
Chavan, a resident of Nandoshi on Sinhagad Road, first experienced weakness and paralysis-like symptoms on January 15. She was initially admitted to a private hospital before being transferred to Sassoon Hospital on January 17 as her condition deteriorated. Despite intensive care, she passed away on January 28 due to respiratory arrest and paralysis, as confirmed by the state Health Department.
The state’s total GBS patient count has reached 127, with 20 patients currently on ventilator support. The highest concentration of cases is in Pune and surrounding areas, with:
23 cases in Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) limits
73 cases from recently merged villages into PMC
13 cases in Pimpri-Chinchwad
9 cases in Pune rural
9 cases from other districts
The Health Department has confirmed that 72 patients have been officially diagnosed with GBS.
In a bid to determine the cause, 121 stool samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) for analysis. The findings revealed:
21 samples tested positive for norovirus
5 samples contained the Campylobacter jejuni bacteria
One cerebrospinal fluid sample tested positive for Epstein-Barr virus
Additionally, blood tests from 200 patients ruled out infections from Zika, dengue, and chikungunya viruses, according to the Health Department.
Amid the alarming rise in cases, the Central Government has taken note of the situation and formed a high-level committee to assess and manage the outbreak in Maharashtra. The committee is expected to provide recommendations for controlling the spread of the syndrome and improving treatment protocols.
