Pune: Amid the rising cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) in parts of Pune, the municipal corporation has intensified its efforts to curb the spread of disease. Areas including Nanded village, Dhayari, Kirkatwadi, and Ambegaon along Sinhagad Road have been under active surveillance.

As part of this initiative, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has completed surveys of 25,000 households, and 20,000 of these have been provided with free "Mediclor" disinfectant bottles to ensure access to clean drinking water.

Pune Municipal Commissioner Dr. Rajendra Bhosale confirmed these measures and stated that the administration has swiftly implemented urgent steps to contain the disease. Given that water supply to the affected areas is sourced from a well in Nanded, the chlorine dosage for water treatment has been doubled to eliminate any potential contamination.

Furthermore, the well is equipped with 21 submersible pumps, and authorities are systematically collecting water samples from each pump to monitor water quality.

In addition to these steps, PMC has urged residents to boil and filter their drinking water to prevent infection. Citizens have also been advised to avoid consuming food from street vendors, as contaminated food and water could contribute to the spread of the disease. To enhance water safety, municipal authorities have installed protective mesh covers on drinking water wells to prevent external contamination.

Intensified Food Safety Inspections Following GBS Death Case

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has initiated rigorous food safety inspections in areas where GBS cases have been detected. Officials are actively collecting food samples to identify potential sources of contamination.

The investigation gained urgency after it was revealed that a patient who later succumbed to the disease in Solapur had consumed roadside pani puri while in Pune. This has raised serious concerns about hygiene standards, prompting authorities to crack down on food safety violations.

Additionally, certain localities rely on private water tankers for supply. Although this water is primarily used for non-drinking purposes, the municipal corporation has taken the proactive step of offering disinfection assistance at 12 tanker filling stations. This move aims to minimize the risk of waterborne infections that could contribute to GBS cases.