166 Cases, 5 Deaths: Waterborne Bacteria Behind Severe GBS Outbreak in Pune
Pune's GBS outbreak highlights the dangers of neglecting infrastructure for real estate profits. Officials have identified contaminated water carrying C-jejuni as the cause.
Guillainbarr SyndromeWaterborne DiseasePune OutbreakCampylobacter JejuniUrbanizationReal EstateFeb 05, 2025
Unlike diseases such as COVID-19, GBS is not contagious.
However, the recent outbreak in Pune, India, has raised significant concerns.
The Maharashtra State health department, after testing more than 70 patients, has confirmed that the GBS outbreak in Pune is waterborne, caused by the bacteria Campylobacter jejuni (C-jejuni).
As of now, 166 cases have been reported, with five fatalities, 52 patients discharged, 21 on ventilators, and 61 in the ICU.
This marks India’s worst-ever GBS outbreak.
Health officials have appealed to the public to remain calm and take necessary precautions while consuming food and water.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has dispatched a team to Pune to assist local medical staff with technical and on-ground support.
The first GBS case in Pune was identified on January 9.
Since then, hospitals such as Kamla Nehru Hospital in Pune city, YCM Hospital in Pimpri-Chinchwad, and the government-run Sassoon Hospital have been treating patients.
A significant number of the 161 infected individuals are from the Pune municipal area, newly added villages around this area, and the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation.
The state government has announced that GBS treatment, which can be expensive, will be provided free of cost.
GBS is characterized by the immune system attacking the nervous system, leading to numbness and, in severe cases, affecting the respiratory system.
The disease is not communicable, but it can be triggered by bacterial or viral infections.
In Pune, over 70 patients were tested, and 27 were found to be infected with the C-jejuni bacteria.
A senior health department official stated that contaminated water, primarily from the Khadakwasla area on the outskirts of Pune, is the source of the infection.
The wells in this region receive untreated water from the Khadakwasla dam, which is used by local residents.
Water tests conducted by the Pune municipal corporation found that wells and borewells around the dam are contaminated, with water from RO plants and vendors also showing high bacterial counts.
Pradeep Awate, a former officer of the State surveillance of epidemiology department, highlighted the issue of accessing clean water in the villages surrounding Pune.
He noted that as cities expand, these areas are often incorporated into municipal regions without adequate infrastructure.
This leads to health hazards like fever and gastroenteritis outbreaks.
Poor sewage systems exacerbate the problem, creating multiple opportunities for water contamination.
Pune’s rapid, unplanned urbanization is a significant factor in the GBS outbreak.
Tanmay Kanitkar, an author and activist from Pune, observed, 'We hear about Pune’s growth, but no one talks about how it is growing.
This outbreak shows that Pune is expanding without basic amenities like a sewage system, clean water access, open spaces, or proper roads.' Political influence and real estate interests have often overshadowed development norms.
Recently, the Maharashtra Urban Development Department approved the inclusion of 23 villages in the Pune Metropolitan Region Area (PMRDA).
However, these areas lack basic infrastructure, a point often raised by opposition leaders.
Sunil Mane, spokesperson of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), criticized the expansion, saying it was done for political reasons and without proper groundwork.
Pune has been a major real estate hub in India for over a decade.
In 2024, it accounted for 18% of the country's real estate market, with a 15% growth in the sector.
The city is a hub for IT, manufacturing, education, and agriculture-based processing industries, driving real estate interest.
However, this growth has been largely unplanned, and the GBS outbreak is a symptom of a larger systemic issue.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who also serves as Pune’s district guardian minister, has convened multiple meetings with health department officials and other authorities.
He has instructed that water purification in the Khadakwasla dam and its surrounding areas begin immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)?
GBS is a rare but curable condition where the immune system attacks the nervous system, causing numbness and, in severe cases, paralysis. It is not contagious like COVID-19.
What caused the GBS outbreak in Pune?
The outbreak in Pune is caused by contaminated water carrying the bacteria Campylobacter jejuni (C-jejuni), primarily from the Khadakwasla area.
How many cases and deaths have been reported in the GBS outbreak?
As of now, 166 cases have been reported, with five fatalities, 52 patients discharged, 21 on ventilators, and 61 in the ICU.
What are the symptoms of GBS?
Symptoms include numbness in parts of the body, and in severe cases, paralysis affecting the respiratory system. The disease is not contagious.
What measures are being taken to address the outbreak?
The state government has announced free GBS treatment, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has sent a team to provide technical and on-ground support. Water purification in the Khadakwasla dam and surrounding areas is also being initiated.
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