Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed the administration to make special arrangements in government hospitals to treat patients amid the outbreak of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). This decision followed a review of the situation during a presentation by the public health department at the weekly cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
The Chief Minister’s office stated that GBS patients are currently being treated, but additional special arrangements will be made in government hospitals to ensure proper treatment. The treatment for GBS is included in the state health insurance scheme, the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana. Any further procedures required will be overseen by the Public Health Department.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar noted that instructions have already been issued to the administration to treat patients in Pune city at the Kamla Nehru Hospital of the Pune Municipal Corporation and at the Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital of the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation.
State Health Minister Prakash Abitkar clarified that GBS is a rare and non-contagious disease caused by decreased immunity. He emphasized that a review has been conducted in Pune, and instructions for treatment and examination have been given. The state Public Health Department and the Health Departments of both Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporations are taking action accordingly.
Currently, there are 111 patients in Pune, with 80 of them within a five-kilometer radius. Approximately 350,000 houses and 940,000 citizens have been tested with the help of the National Institute of Virology. One death has been reported, though it is not yet confirmed to be due to GBS.
Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif has asked the administration to implement the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to prevent the outbreak of the GBS virus effectively. Daily updated information on GBS patients should be submitted to the Commissioner of Medical Education and Research Department. Mushrif also stressed the need for creating awareness among citizens about preventive measures to avoid the spread of the virus and ensuring the availability of necessary medicines and equipment.
The public health department has taken several measures, including deploying a state-level rapid response team to the affected area and instructing the Pune Municipal Commissioner and rural district authorities to increase surveillance activities. Forty-four stool samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune for testing the enteric virus panel.
According to the Public Health Department, GBS is an autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system. It is characterized by muscle weakness and, in severe cases, paralysis. Common symptoms of GBS include sudden weakness in the hands or legs, paralysis, trouble walking, sudden onset of weakness, and prolonged diarrhea.
The public health department has appealed to citizens not to panic but to visit a government hospital if any symptoms are observed. Citizens should also follow preventive measures, such as drinking boiled water, consuming fresh and clean food items, and maintaining personal hygiene. Additionally, cooked and uncooked food items should not be kept together to avoid infection.
