PUNE/MUMBAI, 8 FEB

The Pune region has seen a surge in suspected cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), with the count now reaching 180 following the identification of seven new cases, while Mumbai reported its first case involving a 64-year-old woman.

Of the suspected cases in Pune, 146 have been diagnosed with GBS. The reports indicate 35 affected individuals from Pune Municipal Corporation, 88 from newly incorporated villages, 25 from Pimpri Chinchwad, and the remainder from Pune Rural and other districts. Out of this number, 79 patients have been discharged, while 58 remain in ICU, with 22 on ventilator support.

The woman from Andheri (East) in Mumbai was admitted to hospital on 21 January with a history of fever and diarrhoea, which progressed to paralysis. She is currently receiving care in an ICU, with her condition described as moderate.

Maharashtra's Health Minister, Prakash Abitkar, announced plans for new legislation aimed at ensuring clean drinking water and imposing fines on entities that pollute water supplies. The Pune Municipal Corporation and state health department are collaborating to manage the GBS outbreak, which has been linked to waterborne bacteria. Abitkar emphasised the need for proper monitoring and water treatment to prevent further cases, particularly in Nanded village, which has reported a significant number of GBS incidents.