Pune sees 1st loss of life from potential Guillain-Barre syndrome amidst outbreak

On Sunday, 26 January, because the nation celebrated Republic Day, the caseload of suspected Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) sufferers in and round Pune — which has been seeing an outbreak — inched previous 100. And a affected person in Solapur suspected of getting contracted it whereas in Pune died. He was visiting his native village in Solapur on the time.

Of the 101 sufferers nonetheless beneath remedy throughout the area, 16 are on ventilator help.

The outbreak had already affected 73 individuals by the point the alarm was raised three days in the past.

A go to by a crew from the central well being ministry is anticipated right now, 27 January, to evaluate the scenario. In the meantime, the state has already ordered chemical and organic evaluation of water samples from totally different components of Pune, fearing contamination (see ‘What’s Guillain-Barre syndrome?’ under).

Blood samples from the preliminary few days despatched to the ICMR-Nationwide Institute of Virology have examined destructive for chikungunya, dengue and zika. Nonetheless, stool samples of 9 sufferers examined optimistic for norovirus (a very virulent GI an infection, extra widespread in kids) and three for Campylobacter jejuni (one other GI an infection — and a standard predictor of GBS — which is commonly acquired through contaminated meals and water).

Of the 101 suspected instances, the bulk (81) are within the core space beneath the Pune Municipal Company, adopted by 14 from the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Company’s area and one other 6 from different districts.

The present outbreak appears to have struck greater than twice as many males as females (68:33) and the agewise distribution suggests extra younger individuals are being affected. This can be vital in serving to healthcare professionals hint the outbreak to its root(s) since GBS is often extra widespread within the 50-plus age group.