GBS outbreak: NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule visits affected area in Pune

NCPSCP MP Supriya Sule visited the GBS GuillainBarre Syndrome affected area at Sinhgad Road in Pune on Thursday morning reported news agency ANIShe inspected the water sources that supply water to locals She also interacted with the people listened to their complaints reported ANIThe total number of suspected cases of GBS in Pune and other districts of the State is 127 with 72 confirmed cases the Maharashtra Public Health Department said in a press release on WednesdayAs of today 127 suspected cases of GBS have been identified with 2 suspected deaths Out of these 72 patients have been confirmed as having GBS 23 patients are from Pune Municipal Corporation 73 from newly added villages in the PMC area 13 from Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation 9 from Pune Rural and 9 from other districts Among the affected individuals 20 are currently on ventilator support the press release saidOn Tuesday the Director General Indian Council of Medical Research Dr Rajiv Bahl said that the cases are under investigation as a team of experts has collected various samplesSamples of stool and blood of those infected are being tested at the NIV Pune lab but yet to get any definite leads on the cause behind the spread Dr Bahl saidHe said that the cause or link of GBS is found only in 40 per cent of cases The Campylobacter jejunum bacteria were found in 4 stool samples that were collected from 21 GBS patients in Pune which were tested by the National Institute for Virology NIV Pune while norovirus was found in someThe Union Health Ministry has deputed a highlevel multidisciplinary team to Pune to aid state authorities in instituting interventions and managing the spurt in suspected and confirmed cases of Guillain Barre Syndrome GBS in the cityThe central team sent to Maharashtra comprises seven experts from the National Centre for Disease Control NCDC Delhi NIMHANS Bengaluru Regional Office of Health amp Family Welfare and National Institute for Virology NIV Pune Three experts from NIV Pune were already supporting the local authoritiesThe team is working closely with the state health departments and taking stock of the onground situation to recommend necessary public health interventions The central team has been tasked with monitoring the situation and coordinating with the state The water samples from different parts of the city have been sent for chemical and biological analysis to the Public Health LaboratoryGBS can develop sudden weakness in the hands or legs paralysis People could have trouble while walking or weakness with sudden onset and diarrhoea for sustained periodsGuidance has also been issued for citizens to ensure maintaining the water quality such as drinking boiled water and food should be fresh and clean The infection can be avoided also by not keeping cooked and uncooked food items togetherDescribing the diseases progression Dr Praveen Gupta Principal Director amp Chief of Neurology at Fortis Hospital said GBS occurs when antibodies created to fight bacterial or viral infections like Campylobacter jejuni or respiratory infections crossreact with the peripheral nerves This leads to ascending paralysis starting in the legs and moving upward In severe cases patients may lose the ability to breathe due to thoracic muscle weakness and require ventilatory supportWith inputs from ANI