Guillain-Barre Syndrome Alerts!  - A 40-year-old man, suspected of having Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), died in Solapur district, Maharashtra, while the number of cases in Pune has crossed 100, health officials reported on Monday, January 27, 2025.

The man, originally from Solapur, had come to Pune, where officials suspect he might have contracted the illness. The patient reportedly showed symptoms such as breathing difficulties, weakness in the lower limbs, and diarrhea. He was admitted to a private hospital in Solapur on January 18 and was on ventilator support intermittently. He died on Sunday, it said.

Following his death, the case was referred to the government hospital in Solapur, where a clinical autopsy was conducted to confirm the cause. The preliminary report indicated that GBS was the cause of death. Blood samples of the deceased have been sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune for further tests.

According to a health department official, Pune has recorded a total of 101 GBS cases so far, including 68 men and 33 women. Sixteen of these patients are currently on ventilator support.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome or GBS  is a very rare Disease that causes sudden muscle weakness and numbness. The condition is often triggered by Campylobacter jejuni, a type of pathogenic bacteria. Stool sample analyses from multiple hospitals have confirmed the presence of this bacterium, strengthening its link to the outbreak

Its Symptoms include high weakness in limbs associated with diarrhea. Doctors say - bacterial and viral infections, help weakens the immune system.

A team of experts sent by the central government is already in Pune to evaluate the situation, the local health department officials said.

The Rapid Response Team (RRT), formed by the state health department, along with the Pune Municipal Corporation’s health department, is conducting extensive surveillance in affected areas near Sinhgad Road.

So far, health officials have surveyed 25,578 homes, including 15,761 within Pune Municipal Corporation limits, 3,719 in Chinchwad Municipal Corporation areas, and 6,098 in rural parts of the district.

Doctors have assured the public that while GBS can affect both children and young adults, it is not likely to spread as an epidemic or pandemic. 

The sudden rise in GBS cases was first noticed after 24 suspected cases were reported, prompting the state health department to deploy the RRT for investigation.