New Delhi. There has been a stir in the health department after 22 suspected cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) have been reported in Pune, Maharashtra. The Pune Municipal Corporation team has examined these suspected patients and their samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology of the Indian Council of Medical Research. According to municipal officials, most of the GBS cases have been found in Sinhagad Road area of Pune. Most of these suspected patients are aged between 12 to 30 years, while one patient is 59 years old, who is admitted in the hospital and his treatment is going on.
The Pune Municipal Corporation has issued an alert regarding the spread of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) after 22 suspected cases were reported across multiple hospitals in the city. Health authorities have assured the public that the disease is not dangerous and is not… pic.twitter.com/gWOlHZbw34
— Pune Mirror (@ThePuneMirror) January 21, 2025
What is Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)?
Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare but serious disease in which a person experiences muscle weakness and numbness in various parts of the body. This disease mainly affects the nervous system of the body and the patient experiences severe weakness. According to doctors, there is no need to panic about this disease, but timely diagnosis and treatment is necessary. Health experts have advised people to remain alert and contact a doctor immediately if any unusual symptoms occur. The health department has started an awareness campaign in the concerned areas and suspected cases are being monitored. Also, appropriate steps are being taken to prevent the spread of this disease.
Guillain-Barré syndrome is not a virus, but a rare autoimmune disease. In this, the person’s own immune system mistakenly starts attacking the body’s nerves. However, this disease can often arise after an infection.
viral or bacterial infection
Guillain-Barré syndrome usually develops after a respiratory tract infection or a digestive tract infection. Campylobacter jejuni bacteria, which is contracted from contaminated food or water, is thought to be the most common cause of GBS. Viral infections such as influenza, dengue, and sometimes Zika virus can also trigger GBS.
Why has the danger increased in Pune?
Experts believe that the reason for the spread of this disease in Pune could be the outbreak of a particular infection. The Pune Municipal Corporation and the health department are investigating whether all these patients had a common infection that could trigger GBS.