Pune GBS Outbreak: A 56-year-old woman from Kirkatwadi, Sinhagad Road, Pune, has died under suspicion of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) at Sassoon General Hospital. Her case adds to the rising number of reported instances linked to the rare neurological disorder in Maharashtra, while 16 new cases were reported in the state on Wednesday, bringing the total suspected cases to 127, health officials confirmed. Meanwhile, in West Bengal, three people, including a child, have died in the past four days due to suspected GBS. Health officials are yet to confirm the exact cause of these deaths.

Pune GBS Case Update: Second Death Reported

According to the health department, the woman was admitted to a local hospital on January 15 after experiencing weakness. Her condition worsened and she was transferred to Sassoon General Hospital on January 17. She suffered respiratory failure and sepsis before passing away on January 28. Officials have stated that a medical review will confirm if GBS was the cause of death.

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The first suspected fatality in Maharashtra was reported on January 25 when a 40-year-old man from Solapur, residing in Dhayari, Pune, died from suspected GBS. Of the 127 cases reported so far, 72 have been confirmed as GBS and 20 patients remain on ventilator support.

The health department stated that 121 stool samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune for testing. Of these, 21 samples tested positive for Norovirus, while five samples contained Campylobacter bacteria. Health authorities are investigating whether water contamination is linked to the outbreak.

GBS Cases In West Bengal

Meanwhile, West Bengal has reported three suspected GBS deaths in the last four days. The deceased include a 10-year-old boy, Debkumar Sahu, from Jagaddal, a 17-year-old teenager, Aritra Manal, from Amdanga and a 48-year-old man from Dhaniakhali village in Hooghly district. All three passed away in government hospitals, though the state health department has not officially confirmed GBS as the cause of death.

Debkumar died at BC Roy Hospital in Kolkata on 26 January. The next day, Aritra, who was undergoing treatment at NRS Medical College and Hospital, also passed away. The third victim, a 48-year-old man, died at Hooghly hospital.

Family members of the deceased claimed that all three were suffering from suspected GBS. Debkumar’s uncle, Govinda Sahu, stated that doctors had not officially confirmed the syndrome, but the death certificate mentioned it as a suspected cause.

Currently, four more children with suspected GBS are receiving treatment at BC Roy Hospital and the Institute of Child Health in Kolkata. A senior health department official assured that the situation in West Bengal remains under control and urged the public not to panic.

Pune GBS Outbreak: Political Response

In Pune, Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule criticised the civic administration, blaming "urban planning failures" and increasing pollution for the GBS outbreak. She urged the government to cover medical expenses for affected patients, claiming that poor management had led to the spread of the disease.

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Sule also stated that she had spoken to the Union Environment Minister about the outbreak and mentioned the need for a scientific investigation into the root cause.

Doctors suspect that bacterial and viral infections weaken the immune system, potentially triggering GBS. In Maharashtra, contaminated water is being investigated as a possible source. Recent water tests detected high levels of E. coli in a well near Khadakwasla Dam, a key water source for Pune. However, authorities have yet to confirm whether the well was in active use.