Pune reports sixth suspected GBS death amid water contamination concerns

The number of suspected fatalities linked to GuillainBarreacute Syndrome GBS in Maharashtras Pune district has climbed to six following the death of a 63yearold man a health official confirmed on ThursdayAccording to PTI reports the deceased was admitted to a hospital in the Sinhgad Road area after experiencing fever loose motions and weakness in his lower limbs He was subsequently diagnosed with GBS Despite medical intervention his condition deteriorated and he succumbed to an acute ischemic stroke on Wednesday a Pune Municipal Corporation PMC health official statedThe official further clarified that among the six fatalities five are classified as suspected GBSrelated deaths while one has been confirmed as directly caused by the rare nerve disorderRise in suspected GBS casesAs per PTI the Maharashtra health department reported three new suspected GBS cases in Pune bringing the total number of suspected cases to 173 Out of these 140 individuals have been diagnosed with GBSAccording to the official release the distribution of cases is as follows34 patients are from areas under the Pune Municipal Corporation PMC limits87 cases originate from newly added villages in the PMC jurisdiction22 cases have been reported from the PimpriChinchwad municipal limits22 patients hail from rural parts of Pune district8 cases have been detected in individuals from other districtsThe health departmentrsquos report further revealed that of the 173 affected individuals72 patients have been discharged55 are currently in intensive care units ICU21 require ventilator supportWater contamination linked to outbreakAlso readGBS outbreak BMC confirms first case in Mumbai after 64yearold woman tests positiveA senior health official from the Rapid Response Team RRT which is investigating the outbreak within a 5kilometre radius of Nanded village in the Sinhgad Road area has confirmed a crucial development as per PTI reportsA tap water sample from a housing society in Nanded village where the highest number of GBS cases have been recorded tested positive for Campylobacter jejuni a bacterial pathogen known to cause gastroenteritis and potentially trigger GBSThe National Institute of Virology NIV has corroborated findings that the outbreak in Nanded and its surrounding areas was caused by water contamination specifically due to the presence of waterborne Campylobacter jejuni according to a PMC officialIn response to these findings the PMC has sealed 11 private reverse osmosis RO plants in Nanded and nearby localities as water samples from these sources were deemed unfit for human consumption This action brings the total number of RO plants sealed by the civic bodyrsquos water supply department to 30Nandkishor Jagtap head of PMCrsquos water department announced that standard operating procedures SOPs would soon be issued for private RO plants water tanker operators and borewell owners supplying drinking water They will be required to use bleaching solutions to ensure the supply of clean and uncontaminated water Jagtap statedUnderstanding GuillainBarreacute Syndrome GBSGBS is a rare but serious autoimmune condition in which the bodys immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nerves Symptoms include muscle weakness loss of sensation in the limbs and difficulty swallowing or breathing Severe cases may lead to neartotal paralysisAs per PTI reports GBS is more common in adults and men but individuals of all ages can be affected The ongoing investigation into the outbreak aims to prevent further cases and ensure safe water supply measures in the affected regions