GBS Outbreak in Pune; Chlorine Absent in Samples from 26 Homes

GBS Outbreak in Pune; Chlorine Absent in Samples from 26 Homes
Pune, February 5, 2025: In a concerning development, water samples collected from the homes of 26 Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) patients in the Nandedgaon area, near Sinhagad Road, were found to contain no chlorine, rendering them unsafe for consumption. This discovery was made by the Rapid Response Team (RRT) investigating the recent surge in GBS cases.
Radhakishan Pawar, deputy director of the public health department and head of the RRT, reported that 77 GBS cases have been identified in and around Nandedgaon. The team visited 62 affected households to assess water sources, with samples from 26 homes testing chlorine-free.
Most residents in this area rely on water from a well supplied by Khadakwasla, while others depend on private tankers or personal wells. The absence of chlorine, essential for water disinfection, raised alarms about possible contamination.
Following a meeting on Monday, the RRT instructed the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to ensure a minimum chlorine level of 0.2 parts per million (ppm) in water supplies to prevent further outbreaks. The team will also expand testing within a 5 km radius of Nandedgaon, where the majority of cases have been reported.
As of Tuesday, three new suspected GBS cases were reported, bringing the total to 166, including 130 confirmed cases. Five suspected deaths have been recorded in Maharashtra. Of these, 33 cases are from the PMC area, 86 from newly merged villages, 19 from the Pimpri-Chinchwad region, 20 from Pune Rural, and eight from other districts. Currently, 61 patients are in intensive care, with 21 on ventilators, while 52 have been discharged.