Pune GBS Outbreak: PMC to Clean Water Tanks as Five New Cases Reported

Pune, February 13: Amid the ongoing outbreak of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in Pune, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has announced a citywide initiative to clean all water tanks. The move comes as five fresh cases were reported on Tuesday, bringing the total number of suspected cases to 197 in the district, according to public health officials.

PMC to Conduct Water Tank Cleaning Drive

To curb the spread of GBS, PMC has decided to undertake systematic cleaning of water tanks across the city. Since the tanks need to be emptied for cleaning, the process will be carried out in phases to prevent disruptions in water supply. Officials estimate the cleaning drive will take approximately one month to complete.

Municipal Commissioner Rajendra Bhosale has directed the PMC water department to ensure the thorough cleaning of all water tanks. Additional Municipal Commissioner BP Prithviraj stated, “The cleaning process will be completed within a month. We will also focus on maintaining cleanliness in surrounding areas and ensuring that underground water tanks are not located near drainage lines. Water distribution will not be affected during this period.”

GBS Cases Continue to Rise

Public health officials confirmed five new cases on Tuesday, pushing the suspected case count to 197. Of these, 172 patients have been diagnosed with confirmed GBS. Tragically, four of the seven reported deaths have been officially linked to the disease.

Dr. Babita Kamlapurkar, Joint Director of Health Services, provided further details on the distribution of cases:

• 40 cases from PMC limits
• 92 cases from newly added villages in PMC jurisdiction
• 29 cases from Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC)
• 28 cases from Pune rural areas
• 8 cases from other districts

As of now, 104 patients have been discharged, while 50 remain in the ICU, and 20 require ventilator support, according to Dr. Kamlapurkar.

Water Contamination Linked to GBS Outbreak

Health officials had previously identified contaminated water as a potential source of the outbreak. Water samples collected from the Kirkatwadi area tested positive for Campylobacter jejuni bacteria, which experts suspect may have triggered the surge in GBS cases. Additionally, samples from privately operated reverse osmosis (RO) plants were found to be contaminated with bacterial infections.

Outbreak Concentrated in Specific Areas

The GBS outbreak has primarily affected localities along the Sinhagad Road corridor, including:

• Rajaram Bridge
• Dhayari
• Kirkatwadi
• Nanded City
• Nandoshi

To prevent the further spread of GBS to other parts of Pune, PMC has initiated a systematic water tank cleaning drive across all zones. The civic body is also working closely with health officials to monitor the situation and implement preventive measures.

The PMC urges residents to take precautions, use boiled or purified water, and report any symptoms of GBS, such as muscle weakness or tingling sensations, to healthcare providers immediately.