Cause of Pune’s GBS Outbreak Unclear: Contaminated Water or Poultry?
Cause of Pune’s GBS Outbreak Unclear: Contaminated Water or Poultry?
Pune: While the outbreak of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in Pune has subsided, the exact cause remains undetermined. Even two months after the outbreak, health authorities have yet to pinpoint whether the infection spread due to contaminated water or poultry.
The outbreak, which began on January 9, saw a sharp rise in cases, primarily in the Nanded Gaon area along Sinhagad Road. However, since February 18, no new cases have been reported, prompting Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) health department to inform the State Public Health Department that the outbreak has ended. Despite this, the health department has yet to release an official statement on the exact cause.
To investigate, health officials had sent water and poultry feces samples from affected areas to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) for testing. The samples revealed the presence of Campylobacter jejuni and Norovirus 139 in both drinking water and poultry samples. This has created uncertainty about whether the outbreak was waterborne or linked to poultry consumption.
NIV is currently conducting genetic sequencing of the detected bacteria and viruses, which is expected to provide a conclusive answer regarding the outbreak’s cause. According to Dr. Radhakishan Pawar, Deputy Director of the Health Department, the results of this sequencing will determine the precise source of the GBS outbreak.
Meanwhile, the PMC is awaiting the findings of the State Rapid Response Team which will establish the cause once all data is analyzed.
