Special Correspondent
Pune: Due to the rising number of cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Commissioner Dr. Rajendra Bhosale has urged residents to boil water before drinking it. While some water samples have been tested, no GBS-related viruses have been found. Dr. Bhosale reassured the public that there is no need to panic at this stage.
The number of GBS cases in Pune has been increasing in recent days. Maharashtra has reported a total of 101 GBS cases, with 68 men and 33 women among the affected. The PMC has surveyed around 25,578 households in the city, and there are currently 64 GBS patients within PMC limits. Of these, 13 are on ventilators, while five patients have been successfully treated and discharged. To manage the rising cases, the Kamla Nehru Hospital has reserved 15 ICU beds for GBS patients, where free treatment will be provided.
Dr. Bhosale also mentioned that 200 Immunoglobulin (Ig) injections have been procured and will be supplied to private hospitals treating GBS patients. This initiative will help reduce the treatment costs for patients in private facilities. Additionally, the PMC will implement a “Urban Poor Scheme” to cover the treatment expenses of patients who cannot afford the cost. Four Assistant Medical Officers have been assigned to monitor the situation at private hospitals and ensure that all patient needs are met.
The Health Department has established a rapid response team to monitor the areas with the highest number of cases. Stool and blood samples from patients have been sent to the National Institute of Virology for testing. Preliminary reports indicate the presence of Campylobacter jejuni and Norovirus infections. Furthermore, water samples from various parts of Pune have been sent to the State Public Health Laboratory for chemical and biological testing, though the results are still awaited.
