166 Cases, 5 Deaths: Waterborne Bacteria Fuels GBS Outbreak in Pune
Pune's GBS outbreak highlights the dire consequences of neglecting infrastructure for real estate profits. In 2024, Pune's share of the real estate market in the country stood at 18 percent.
GbsWaterborne DiseaseCampylobacter JejuniPuneReal EstateReal Estate PuneFeb 05, 2025
Unlike communicable diseases like COVID-19, GBS is not contagious.
However, the recent outbreak in Pune has been linked to contaminated water, specifically the bacteria Campylobacter jejuni or C-jejuni.
After conducting tests on over 70 patients, the Maharashtra State health department has concluded that the outbreak is waterborne.
Out of the total 166 cases, five have succumbed to the disease, 52 have been discharged, 21 are on ventilators, and 61 are in ICU.
This marks India's worst-ever GBS outbreak.
Health authorities have called for calm and advised residents to be cautious with their food and water consumption.
The first GBS patient was diagnosed on January 9 in Pune.
Since then, Kamla Nehru Hospital in Pune, YCM Hospital in Pimpri-Chinchwad, and the government-run Sassoon Hospital have been treating patients.
Of the 161 infected, 31 are from the Pune municipal area, 83 from newly added villages around this area, 18 from the adjoining Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal corporation, 18 from Pune rural, and eight from other districts in the state.
Given the high cost of GBS treatment, the state government has announced that it will be provided free of cost.
GBS is a rare disease where the immune system attacks the nervous system, causing numbness in the body and, in severe cases, affecting the respiratory system.
The core pathogen is typically bacterial or viral.
Tests on over 70 patients in Pune have revealed that 27 were infected with the C-jejuni bacteria.
A senior health department official stated, 'Test results have confirmed that contaminated water, mostly from the Khadakwasla area, has caused this infection.' The wells in this area receive untreated water from the Khadakwasla dam, which is the primary source of infection.
Water tests conducted by the Pune municipal corporation found that wells and borewells around the Khadakwasla dam are heavily contaminated.
Contamination levels in RO plants and water jars sold by vendors were also far above safe limits, with most results showing 16+ MPN (Most Probable Number) bacterial counts.
The ideal count for human consumption is zero MPN.
Pradeep Awate, a former officer of the State surveillance of epidemiology department, highlighted the challenges of accessing clean water in villages around Pune.
'Many villages face serious health hazards from drinking polluted water.
As cities expand, these villages are incorporated into municipal areas without adequate infrastructure development,' he said.
Poor sewage systems create multiple opportunities for water contamination, requiring attention at both local and policy levels.
Tanmay Kanitkar, an author and activist from Pune, emphasized the city's unplanned urbanization.
'Pune is growing, but the focus is not on how it is growing.
The GBS outbreak shows that Pune is expanding without basic amenities like a sewage system, drinking water access, open spaces, and proper roads,' he noted.
Political and real estate pressures have overshadowed basic development norms.
Recently, Maharashtra’s urban development department approved the inclusion of 23 villages in the Pune Metropolitan Region Area (PMRDA).
However, these areas still lack basic infrastructure, a fact that opposition leaders have been quick to highlight.
Sunil Mane, spokesperson of NCP (Sharad Pawar), said, 'The expansion of PMRDA and PCMC was done for political reasons.
The urban development department cleared these proposals without proper groundwork.
This is the work of the builder lobby and political leaders of ruling parties.'
Pune has been a significant real estate hub in India for over a decade, with a market share of 18 percent in 2024.
The city saw a 15 percent growth in the real estate sector in 2024.
Pune is also a hub for IT, manufacturing, education, and agriculture-based processing industries, driving real estate interest.
However, the city's growth has been largely unplanned, and the GBS outbreak is a symptom of a larger systemic issue.
Pune's district guardian minister and Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar has chaired three meetings with health department officials and other authorities, instructing immediate water purification in the Khadakwasla dams and surrounding areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)?
Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is a rare but curable infectious disease where a patient's immune system attacks their nervous system, leading to numbness in parts of the body and, in severe cases, affecting the respiratory system.
What caused the GBS outbreak in Pune?
The GBS outbreak in Pune has been linked to contaminated water, specifically the bacteria Campylobacter jejuni or C-jejuni, which was found in water sources around the Khadakwasla area.
How many cases have been reported in Pune's GBS outbreak?
Pune's GBS outbreak has reported a total of 166 cases, with five deaths, 52 recoveries, 21 patients on ventilators, and 61 in ICU.
What measures has the government taken to address the GBS outbreak?
The state government has announced that GBS treatment will be provided free of cost. Additionally, water purification in the Khadakwasla dams and surrounding areas has been instructed to begin immediately.
What are the long-term implications of Pune's rapid urbanization?
Pune's rapid urbanization has led to the incorporation of villages into municipal areas without adequate infrastructure development. This has resulted in health hazards like the GBS outbreak, highlighting the need for better urban planning and infrastructure development.
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