ICMR-NIV Confirms Presence of C jejuni in Tap Water Samples in Pune’s Kirkatwadi, Linked to GBS Outbreak
Pune GBS Outbreak: PMC to Clean Water Tanks as Five New Cases Reported
Experts at the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV) have confirmed the presence of Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) in tap water samples from Kirkatwadi area in Pune. This is the first time the bacteria has been detected in water samples, though it was previously found in stool samples of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) patients.
The contaminated water samples were collected from a housing society in Kirkatwadi. Consumption of water or food contaminated with C. jejuni can cause bacterial infections and may trigger GBS, a rare neurological disorder. Pune district is currently facing a GBS outbreak, with most cases reported in areas like Nanded Village, Kirkitwadi, Dhayari, and DSK Vishwa along Sinhagad Road.
So far, NIV scientists have identified C. jejuni in stool samples of 27 suspected and confirmed GBS patients undergoing treatment in Pune hospitals. On Wednesday, four new suspected GBS cases were reported, bringing the total to 170 cases. The state has recorded 132 confirmed and 5 suspected deaths linked to the outbreak.
Of the cases, 33 are from Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), 86 from newly added villages in PMC areas, 22 from Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, 21 from Pune rural areas, and 8 from other districts. Currently, 62 patients have been discharged, 61 are in ICU, and 20 are on ventilator support.
Health officials are urging residents to avoid contaminated water and food. The outbreak highlights the need for improved water quality monitoring and public health measures to prevent further spread.
