Guillain-Barré Syndrome: 63-year-old man from Karve Nagar is sixth suspected GBS death in Pune
A 63-year-old man from Karve Nagar passed away on February 5, 2025, while receiving treatment at Kashibai Navale Hospital, marking the sixth suspected Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)-related death in Pune. The patient was admitted on January 28 after experiencing symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, and lower limb weakness, which left him unable to walk. Despite being treated with IVIG, he succumbed to his condition. The official cause of death was attributed to acute ischemic stroke, diabetes mellitus, and GBS, though an autopsy was conducted to investigate further.
Dr. Babita Kamlapurkar, Joint Director of Health Services, stated that six suspected GBS-related deaths have been reported in the state, with only one confirmed case so far. On February 6, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) health department recorded the death, which occurred the previous evening.
As of February 6, 2025, the district has reported 173 suspected GBS cases since January, with 140 confirmed cases. Among these, 34 are from PMC areas, 87 from newly added villages under PMC jurisdiction, 22 from Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), 22 from Pune Rural, and eight from other districts. Three new suspected cases were reported on February 6.
To address the outbreak, 3,868 water samples from across the city were tested, revealing contamination in 37 sources. Additionally, 80 serum samples were sent to NIMHANS Bengaluru for antiganglioside antibodies testing. Dr. Kamlapurkar emphasized the importance of these measures in identifying potential causes of the outbreak.
PMC Health Chief Dr. Nina Borade announced the launch of physiotherapy services at Laigude Hospital for GBS recovery patients. Starting February 6, recovered patients were encouraged to utilize the free facility. The PMC has also initiated door-to-door awareness campaigns, surveillance, and distribution of Mediclor in affected areas.
Since the GBS outbreak, extensive house-to-house surveillance has been conducted, covering 45,574 homes in PMC areas, 23,179 in PCMC, and 13,191 in Pune Rural, totaling 81,944 households. These efforts aim to monitor and mitigate the spread of the syndrome.
