January 30, 2025: A 56-year-old woman from Pune, who had co-morbidities, is suspected to have succumbed to Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) at Sassoon General Hospital, health officials confirmed on Wednesday. This marks the second suspected GBS-related fatality in Maharashtra this week, following the death of a 40-year-old man from Solapur on Sunday.

The state's health department reported a surge in cases, with 16 new suspected GBS cases identified on Wednesday, bringing the total number of suspected cases to 127. Among them, 72 cases have been confirmed, while 20 patients are currently on ventilators.

Health authorities have been actively investigating the cause of the outbreak. Stool samples from 121 patients were sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), where 21 tested positive for Norovirus and five for Campylobacter. Additionally, 200 blood samples have been tested for Zika, dengue, and chikungunya, all returning negative results.

As part of their probe, officials have also tested 144 water samples across Pune. Results revealed contamination in samples from eight sources, raising concerns that the outbreak may have been triggered by contaminated water.

GBS is a rare neurological disorder that leads to sudden numbness, muscle weakness, and in severe cases, paralysis. It is often linked to bacterial or viral infections that compromise the immune system. Doctors suspect that the recent cases may have been caused by waterborne infections.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and urge residents to take necessary precautions, including consuming safe drinking water and seeking medical attention for any unusual symptoms.