Guillain-Barré syndrome cases in Pune: Central team to probe surge in rare nerve disorder

New Delhi: With the reporting of at least 59 cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), an immunological nerve disorder, within a small area in Pune, the Union Health Ministry on Wednesday decided to send a three-member team to investigate the causes behind the sudden outbreak of a rare disease.

The team will be having a microbiologist, a neurologist and a public health expert, sources told DH, adding that it would reach Pune in the next 48 hours.

This will be in addition to a nine-member team already formed by the Maharashtra government to probe the surge of GBS in Pune.

A senior scientist from the National Institute of Virology, Pune, epidemiologists, microbiologists, professors of medical colleges and state health officials are in the team that has been asked by the state government to “initiate the investigation as early as possible and submit a detailed report.”

The first 24 suspected cases were reported at six hospitals - 10 at Dinanath Mangeshkar Hospital, four at Kashibai Navle Hospital, five cases at Poona Hospital, three at Bharti Hospital, and one each at Ankura Hospital and Sahyadri Hospital.

Of the 24 patients, two are on ventilator support, while eight are in the Intensive Care Units.

“A recent outbreak of ‘Guillain-Barré Syndrome' has been identified in the Sinhagad Road area of Pune. Health authorities suspect a link to ‘Campylobacter’ infection, which is often transmitted through contaminated food or water,” the Neurological Society of Pune said in a statement, while advising the public not to panic as it is a treatable condition.

The doctors say GBS is a rare disease with an incidence rate of 0.1-0.2 per 100,000 population, but there is a noticeable rise in the number of cases in Pune.

Nina Borade, chief of the civic health department in Pune, said most of the patients were in the age group of 12-30 years, with only one case of a 59-year-old patient, who was undergoing treatment.

"GBS doesn't require separate treatment. Supportive care, such as antibiotics, IV fluids and treatments for paralysis are generally sufficient. The disease is self-limiting and recoverable. The Pune Municipal Corporation has the expertise and medical preparedness to manage these cases," she added.

Most of the patients develop weakness in the lower and upper limbs while some may experience weakness in the respiratory muscles, requiring ventilator support.

Bacterial or viral infections or contaminated food and water can also trigger the disease.