Pune: The city has reported a significant rise in the number of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) cases, with 59 patients identified so far. Most of the cases have emerged from Kirkatwadi, Dhayari, and Sinhagad Road areas. In response to the outbreak, the Rapid Action Task Force, set up to monitor and analyze the GBS situation, is now on alert mode.
The Pune Municipal Corporation has started collecting water samples from the Sinhagad Road area for analysis, suspecting a potential link between the local water supply and the outbreak.
Emergency Measures
An urgent meeting involving officials from the Public Health Department, Rapid Action Task Force experts, and representatives from the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporations was convened to assess the situation. During the meeting, strategies for containment, diagnosis, and treatment were discussed.
Authorities have initiated the collection of water and food samples from the most affected areas to identify potential sources of contamination. In addition, information regarding the patients and their families, including their medical history and living conditions, is being compiled for further analysis.
Private hospitals in the city have also been roped in to handle the situation. Instructions have been issued to ensure the availability of adequate manpower, medicines, and treatment facilities.
Patient Statistics
Of the 59 cases reported:
33 patients are from rural Pune.
11 patients are within Pune Municipal Corporation limits.
12 patients are from Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation areas.
3 patients are from other districts.
12 patients are on ventilator support.
The age-wise distribution of patients indicates that the disease has affected individuals across all age groups, with 7 males and 4 females in the 0-9 age group being the youngest affected.
Dr. Babita Kamalapurkar, Deputy Director of the Public Health Department, stated, “Efforts are underway to ensure that all hospitals have the necessary resources to manage the situation effectively. Regular monitoring and analysis are being conducted to understand the spread of the disease better.”