The number of suspected Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) patients in Maharashtra has reached 192. The syndrome has been confirmed in 167 patients. So far 7 people have succumbed to the disease. On Monday, a 37-year-old man died in Pune taking the toll to 7.
48 patients are in ICU and 21 are on ventilator. Among the active cases, 39 patients are from Pune Municipal Corporation, 91 from villages adjoining Pune, 29 from Pimpri Chinchwad, 25 from Pune Rural and 8 from other districts.
Earlier on February 7, the number of GB syndrome patients was 180. An official had said that the highest number of GB syndrome cases were reported from a housing society located near Nanded. Water samples were taken here, in which Campylobacter Jejuni was found positive. It is a bacteria found in water.
The National Institute of Virology (NIV) has confirmed that GB syndrome has spread in Nanded and its surrounding areas due to polluted water. Pune Municipal Corporation has sealed 30 plants including 11 private ROs in Nanded and surrounding areas.
A 63-year-old man died on February 6. The health official had said that the elderly man was admitted to the hospital in Sinhagad Road area after complaining of fever and weakness in the legs. Investigation revealed that he had GB syndrome. He died due to ischemic stroke.
Cases of GB syndrome in other states too
Apart from Maharashtra, GB syndrome patients have been reported in 4 other states of the country. This figure is one in Telangana. A 17-year-old girl died in Assam, there is no other active case.
At the same time, 3 people have died in West Bengal till January 30. This includes two children. One is an adult. The victim families claim that the cause of these deaths is GB syndrome, but the Bengal government has not confirmed it. It is claimed that 4 more children are suffering from GBS. Their treatment is going on in Kolkata hospital.
A child named Lakshat Singh died on 28 January in Jaipur, Rajasthan. He was suffering from GB syndrome for some time. His family got him treated in many hospitals. But he could not be saved.
The treatment of GBS is expensive. According to doctors, patients usually have to take a course of immunoglobulin (IVIG) injections. In a private hospital, the cost of one injection is 20 thousand rupees.The family of a 68-year-old patient admitted to a hospital in Pune said that their patient had to be given 13 injections during the treatment.
According to doctors, 80% of the patients affected by GBS start walking without any support within 6 months after being discharged from the hospital. But in many cases, the patient takes a year or more.
