41-Year-Old Pune CA Dies as Guillain-Barré Syndrome Cases Surge to 111 in Under Three Weeks
Pune Reports Surge In Guillain-Barré Syndrome Cases; Public Health Department Issues SOP For Management
Pune CA Becomes First Casualty of Guillain-Barré Syndrome Outbreak; 111 Cases Reported in Less Than Three Weeks
PUNE: A 41-year-old chartered accountant from Pune has been confirmed as the first casualty of the Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) outbreak in the city. The Maharashtra health department reported the death on January 25, with state health minister Prakash Abitkar confirming the diagnosis during a press conference on Monday.
The outbreak, which began on January 9, has resulted in 111 reported cases in Pune, up from 101 as of Sunday. Among the affected, 17 patients are on ventilator support, while seven have been discharged, according to Abitkar.
A high-level multi-disciplinary team from Delhi and Bengaluru has been dispatched by the central government to review the situation and assist the state in implementing public health measures.
Timeline of the Deceased’s Illness
The deceased, a Solapur native, experienced a bout of diarrhoea on January 9, for which he self-medicated. Feeling better, he traveled to Solapur with his family on January 14. However, his health deteriorated again, leading to his hospitalization on January 18.
Doctors at the Solapur hospital reported that the patient was admitted with severe weakness and paralysis, which were later confirmed as symptoms of GBS through nerve-conduction tests. Despite initially responding to treatment, his condition worsened, culminating in his death on January 25.
“He was in the ICU for six days before being moved to the general ward. Unfortunately, his condition declined rapidly, marked by limb weakness and total paralysis,” a relative said.
Investigations and Findings
Dr. Sanjeev Thakur, dean of Vaishampayan Medical College in Solapur, stated that the deceased’s cerebrospinal fluid, nerve tissue, and organs have been sent for testing to identify potential triggers for GBS. Results are expected within a week.
Experts investigating the Pune outbreak have identified the bacteria Campylobacter jejuni and norovirus in patient samples, which are known to trigger GBS in some cases.
Dr. Rakhi Mane, head of Solapur Municipal Corporation’s health department, revealed that the deceased had undergone a five-day course of immunoglobulin injections as part of the treatment protocol.
The outbreak has raised alarms in Pune, with authorities intensifying efforts to contain the spread and ensure timely treatment for those affected.
