Pune on Tuesday reported five new cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). This brings the total number of affected people in the city to 197. The number of deaths remains at seven.
According to the Times of India, the most recent casualty was a 37-year-old man who passed away on Sunday night.
Most cases have emerged within Pune city limits, with neighbouring Pimpri Chinchwad reporting 29 cases. Unlike Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad has not experienced any clustering of GBS cases.
The autoimmune disorder causes the body's immune system to attack the peripheral nervous system, leading to severe complications.
The health department confirmed that over 100 patients have recovered and been discharged, with the total number of recoveries reaching 104 as of Tuesday. However, 50 patients remain in intensive care units, and 20 of them require ventilator support.
In response to the surge in GBS cases, civic authorities are intensifying their actions against illegal RO (reverse osmosis) water filtration plants. Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) Commissioner Shekhar Singh announced plans to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for monitoring these plants, which currently operate without government oversight.
Since the spike in GBS cases, PCMC has sealed at least 24 RO units, while Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has shut down 25 units after detecting serious bacterial contamination in water samples from these facilities. Singh stated that new regulations will mandate water quality testing from NABL-accredited laboratories.
“The FDA does not regulate these plants, and the municipal corporation was not previously responsible for them, which is why there were no established guidelines,” Singh explained.
PCMC issued stop-operation notices to seven more RO plants on Tuesday. Plant owners will be permitted to resume operations only after complying with the new civic guidelines.
What is Guillain-Barré Syndrome?
Guillain-Barré Syndrome is a condition in which the body's immune system attacks the nerves. The different forms of GBS are commonly known as Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP), Miller Fisher Syndrome (MFS), Acute Motor Axonal Neuropathy (AMAN), and Acute Motor-Sensory Axonal Neuropathy (AMSAN). According to reports, GBS can cause numbness, weakness, or paralysis. The first symptoms include weakness and tingling in the hands and feet.
What is the line of treatment?
Treatments such as intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and plasma exchange have revolutionized outcomes, but timely intervention remains critical. According to doctors, 80% of affected patients regain the ability to walk unaided within six months of hospital discharge, though some may take a year or longer to fully recover limb function.
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