The health department added five new Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) cases to Pune’s caseload on Monday, February 3, bringing the total number of patients to 163. At least eight of these cases are from neighboring districts, according to the department’s report.
Patient Recovery Indicates Decline in Cases
No new deaths were reported. Doctors believe the increasing number of patient discharges suggests that the worst phase of the outbreak may be over. Dr. Sameer Jog, consultant intensivist at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, stated that 16 out of their 36 patients have been discharged after showing significant improvement in muscle strength.
“Between January 15 and 19, we admitted three to four new GBS cases daily. That number dropped to about one per day between January 26 and 29. Over the last three days, we haven’t had a single new admission,” Dr. Jog confirmed.
Across hospitals, the total number of discharges increased to 47 on Monday, up from 38 the previous day. However, 21 patients remain on ventilator support.
Experts Recommend Continued Precautions
Dr. Jog emphasized the need to maintain precautionary measures. “Ensuring clean and chlorinated water supplies throughout the city is essential,” he said.
Neurologist Dr. Sudhir Kothari from Poona Hospital also observed a slowdown in GBS cases. “The numbers have come down significantly. Previously, we received at least one case per day, but in the past week, we haven’t admitted any new patients,” he noted.
Dr. Ameet Dravid, an infectious disease expert at Poona and Noble hospitals, confirmed this trend. “During the first week of the spike, from January 15 to 22, we recorded eight cases. Between January 22 and 29, that number dropped to two. We’ve had no new cases in the last few days, indicating a gradual decline,” he explained.
Investigating the Cause of the Outbreak
Most patients had gastroenteritis caused by Campylobacter jejuni, based on BioFire test results, about 12-15 days before developing GBS.
An official from Navale Hospital also noted a slowdown. “We currently have 12 GBS patients, with four on ventilator support. Four patients have been discharged, and we have had no new admissions in the last three days,” the official reported.
As reported by economictimes, health authorities are still investigating the cause of the outbreak. The surge appears concentrated in newly merged PMC areas, where officials are testing various water sources for contamination. Private vendors using RO plants to fill 20-liter water cans are also under scrutiny, as some samples from affected areas contained high levels of bacterial contamination.