Mumbai reports first GBS case in 2025; BMC confirms 64-year-old tests positive

Mumbai reported first case of GuillainBarreacute Syndrome GBS in 2025 on Friday after a 64yearold woman was diagnosed with the rare nerve disorder civic officials saidGBS is a rare condition in which a persons immune system attacks the peripheral nerves resulting in muscle weakness loss of sensation in the legs andor arms as well as problems swallowing or breathingTalking to PTI Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMCs Commissioner and Administrator Bhushan Gagrani stated that the patient was undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit ICU of a civicrun hospitalAccording to PTI civic officials said the Andheri East resident was hospitalised with a history of fever and diarrhoea that was followed by ascending paralysisFurther details about the patient are awaitedIn severe cases GBS patients can develop neartotal paralysis The prevalence of this disorder is more common among adults and in males though people of all ages can be affectedGBS outbreak Deaths in Pune surge to sixMeanwhile the total number of suspected GBS deaths in Maharashtras Pune district stood at six after a 63yearold man died on Wednesday The total suspected cases stand at 173 PTI reportedThe patient who died on Wednesday was admitted to a hospital in the Sinhgad Road area of Pune after he complained of fever loose motions and weakness in the lower limb and was diagnosed with GBS an official said on ThursdayHis condition deteriorated on Wednesday and he died of acute ischemic stroke the Pune Municipal Corporation health official said adding that of the six deaths five are suspected GBS deaths while one is a confirmed fatality from the rare nerve disorderWith the detection of three new cases the number of suspected GBS cases in Pune rose to 173 a Maharashtra health department release saidOf these 140 have been diagnosed with GBS Of the 173 a total of 34 patients are from Pune Municipal Corporation limits 87 from newly added villages in PMC area 22 from Pimpri Chinchwad civic limits 22 from rural parts of the district and eight from other districts the release saidOf the 173 patients 72 have been discharged 55 are in ICU and 21 are on ventilator support the release addedGBS outbreak WHO team works with Pune civic body on rising casesThe World Health Organization WHO is supporting health authorities in Maharashtra to respond to suspected and confirmed cases of GuillainBarreacute Syndrome GBS in Pune Chetan Khade the surveillance medical officer of WHO Pune had earlier told midday ldquoThe WHO teams are on the ground training the health workforce in conducting lsquoactive case searchesrsquo in the community to ensure every suspected case is identified diagnosed and treatedrdquoThe officials added that they worked closely with Pune Municipal Corporation PMC and state and district authorities to trace and test suspected cases and follow up on confirmed cases Last week the team visited the affected areas to examine the situationThe WHO officials added that GBS is a rare condition the cause for which is not fully understood The municipal corporations are promoting public health interventions food and hand hygiene and safe water for disease management Therersquos no cure for GBS but treatments can speed recovery and reduce symptomsWith PTI inputs