In Pune, the state health department added nine suspected cases to the existing 73 confirmed instances of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) since January 9, due to symptoms like acute muscle weakness and impaired mobility. A significant discovery on the same day was the bacterial contamination in water from a nearby well at Khadakwasla Dam, testing positive for E. coli and coliform bacteria, making it unsafe for use, though it’s unclear if this water is being consumed. Out of 11 water samples, the well’s was the only unsafe one.
Despite extensive testing by private labs and the National Institute of Virology, the primary cause of the GBS outbreak remains unidentified. The bacteria Campylobacter jejuni, commonly linked with severe cases of GBS, has been found in patient samples, while tests ruled out viral triggers such as Zika, Dengue, and Chikungunya. Notably, out of the 73 affected individuals, 25 are under 19, 16 are over 60, and 13 are below nine years old, with some still in critical condition on ventilator support.
Efforts by local and central health authorities are underway to investigate the source of the GBS spike, while state health officials caution residents against consuming food from unhygienic places and advise boiling drinking water. Although the daily number of new cases has decreased since the January 20 peak, the health department is actively surveying approximately 18,000 homes in the affected areas, primarily Sinhagad Road, Kirkatwadi, and Dhayari. The health department’s joint director, Dr. Babita Kamlapurkar, and PMC’s health department chief, Dr. Neena Borade, continue to monitor and respond to the situation, seeking to revise and address the GBS case count as new information arises.
Original Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/nine-suspected-cases-added-to-list-of-73-gbs-patients-in-pune-high-e-coli-found-in-one-well-near-dam/articleshow/117563307.cms
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Publish Date: 2025-01-26 01:23:00
